Mental Health Equity is Our North Star
Nunchi Health was founded to make mental health support accessible for all young people
—especially those from immigrant and minority communities.
Our students have fought hard for their education — navigating pressure, uncertainty, and sacrifice along the way. They deserve more than just opportunity; they deserve support for their mental wellbeing every step of the journey.
At Nunchi Health, we create culturally grounded mental health programs that help students feel seen, supported, and empowered. We envision Nunchi as a space where young people can speak openly, reflect on everyday challenges, and find strength through community.
We are more than a program — we are a movement to foster belonging, resilience, and healing. By helping students make sense of their own stories, recognize their growth, and uplift one another, we’re building a generation equipped not just to survive, but to thrive — together.
Our Core Values
Community
Belongingness
Equity
Why We Care
Mental health is one of the most urgent public health issues of our time. In the U.S., one in five people lives with a treatable mental health condition — yet immigrants and communities of color are far less likely to receive quality care.
These communities face distinct and often overlooked challenges: minority stress, stigma, language and cultural barriers, pressure to succeed, intergenerational trauma, imposter syndrome, and the emotional toll of navigating between worlds. Despite this, we remain underrepresented in mental health research, policy, and services. That needs to change.
At Nunchi Health, we are building spaces where our communities feel seen, supported, and connected. We believe that healing happens together — through shared understanding, cultural relevance, and collective care.
We’re not just addressing a crisis — we’re nurturing a movement.
We are healing our generation, together.
Our Mission
We make affirming mental health support accessible for young people worldwide.
Our Vision
A world where every young person is seen, understood, and supported by their community.
Our Call to Action
You Belong Here.
How We Make A Difference
At Nunchi Health, youth lead the way. They shape our priorities, design our programming, and lead conversations that reflect the realities they actually face. The result is mental health support that feels relevant, culturally grounded, and deeply personal.
Our model is peer-led, identity-affirming, and community-centered. We create spaces where culture is honored, lived experience is valued, and belonging is the starting point — not the outcome. Through guided peer support, structured workshops, and leadership development, young people build the skills and solidarity to navigate stress, identity, family dynamics, academic pressure, and intergenerational trauma together.
Research shows that social connection is one of the strongest protective factors against mental health crises — especially for communities where culture and shared experience are central to resilience. Grounded in science and strengthened by digital innovation, our programs expand access to culturally responsive care — combining science and solidarity.
And we do all of this entirely free of charge. Because culturally affirming mental health support should not be a privilege — it should be accessible to every young person who needs it.
About Us
Meet Our Founder
Hi there!
My name is Dr. Chang (he/they). I am a Harvard-trained physician and the founder of Nunchi. As a mental health clinician, I have seen firsthand how the mental health crisis has ravaged our children and families. A lack of awareness and an enduring stigma perpetuate the wounds experienced by immigrant and cultural minority communities. In the end, many children suffer but don't have the resources to access preventative mental health services. We need to support the mental health our young people, particularly and especially those from adverse backgrounds.
Nunchi Health was born from the belief that no one is more equipped to solve the youth mental health crisis than our youth today. We are a group of students, young professionals, and community members securing mental health access for youth, especially those from immigrant or minority backgrounds. We believe in the power of solidarity and leverage peer support in our programming to advance the mental health of our communities. For the global youth population struggling to find accessible care, we provide high-quality, free mental health programs supported by clinicians.
Nunchi History
Nunchi Health is born
Founded by Andrew Chang and Sara Surani — an idea to reimagine mental health through culture, community, and connection.
First Fellowship Curriculum
The first Nunchi Fellowship curriculum is completed, creating a foundation for youth-led mental health care.
First Nunchi Fellowship
The first Nunchi Fellowship cohort launches, training young leaders to facilitate peer-led mental health programs.
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Nunchi Health officially incorporates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, scaling its mission globally.
Fourth Cohort
Nunchi Health's fourth cohort begins, marking 2x growth in participation every cycle since launch.
First Nunchi Conference
Nunchi Health hosts the first conference, bringing together global youth mental health advocates.
Nunchi Cohort Growth
Nunchi Health’s waitlist doubles every cohort, underscoring growing demand for its peer-led programs.
Nunchi Growth Milestone
Nunchi Health reaches 1,000+ youth across 36 countries and expands to 100+ global volunteers, delivering measurable impact and a growing global community.
Awards & Recognitions
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February 27, 2024
Nunchi Health receives the Harvard Culture Lab Innovation Fund, recognizing its role in advancing culturally responsive mental health care across campuses.
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December 16, 2024
Awarded the Social Impact Fellowship Fund by the Harvard Innovation Lab, honoring top ventures driving social change across Harvard.
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April 21, 2025
Receives Walmart Spark Good Local Grant, supporting community-based mental health initiatives
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June 23, 2025
Accepted into the Headstream Accelerator by SecondMuse, joining the world’s most innovative organizations advancing youth mental health.
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October 9, 2025
Honored as a .ORG Impact Award Winner, recognized among the top 5 NGOs globally advancing health and healing.
Disclaimer
Nunchi Health is not a clinical healthcare provider and should not be used or characterized as a replacement for professional, licensed, indigenous, medical, in-person, psychiatric, and/or institutionalized mental healthcare, especially for people with high support needs. As a volunteer community-led organization, Nunchi Health and its representatives are NOT (1) providing mental health services or attempting to treat any mental health conditions at all, including but not limited to mental disabilities, issues, or disorders (i.e., it is not evaluating, diagnosing, treating, operating, ameliorating, modifying, adjusting, or prescribing for any human disease, pain, injury, deformity, or physical or mental condition); (2) licensed to provide mental health care; nor (3) responsible for participants’ mental health. Instead, individuals WILL be provided with a supportive communal environment and a platform to discuss their mental health, which they take full responsibility for (as opposed to relying on facilitators). Nunchi Health cannot guarantee the confidentiality of participants’ names, email addresses, or the content they share in Nunchi-led discussions, though it is strictly protected whenever possible.