Every May, we take time to celebrate and recognize the incredible contributions of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community in the U.S. At Crisis Text Line, we’re proud to highlight and honor the mental health advocates within this group—including our amazing volunteers, staff, and donors—who are helping to make mental health support more inclusive and accessible.
What’s the Difference Between AAPI and AANHPI?
You might be more familiar with the term AAPI, which stands for Asian American and Pacific Islander. It’s been around since 1990, when May was officially designated as a month to celebrate this community. More recently, though, you’ll see AANHPI being used more often. That’s because it specifically calls out Native Hawaiians as a distinct and important part of this diverse group. Both terms are still used, but organizations like the U.S. government and the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) now prefer AANHPI.
Also, just a heads-up: AANHPI and AAPI can sometimes get mixed up with APAC. But APAC actually refers to a region—the Asia-Pacific area—and is more of a business or geopolitical term. AANHPI and AAPI, on the other hand, refer to people who culturally identify as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander.
Want to learn more about the Mental Health Advocacy within the AANHPI Community? Check out this blog post.
