Empowering Our Community

Bhalakushari is a research project between Lehigh University and the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg to better understand and support the mental well-being of older Bhutanese communities in the U.S. Our Study Goals Listen to stories of support We want to hear how Bhutanese community members aged 50 and older find social support through friends, family, and community—and how that support affects their mental well-being. Understand long-term challenges and strengths Over the next three years, we will track how life before and after moving to the U.S. has shaped the mental health of Bhutanese individuals aged 50 and older. Learn from Caregivers We will listen to community members who are caring for adults aged 50 and older and study how caregiving affects both their mental health and the well-being of those they care for.

Project Pathway to Hope is BCCPA's mental health awareness and suicide prevention initiative, launched in January 2025.