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Mental health challenges are widespread among immigrant communities and often go untreated due to stigma, cultural norms, and institutional barriers. Current modalities for mental health focus on pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, which may not always align with the cultural framework of many immigrant communities. Music therapy has emerged as a promising non-pharmacologic intervention that could serve as an accessible means to improve mental health within Asian American immigrant communities. This study will evaluate the feasibility of implementing a culturally tailored music therapy intervention among adult Chinese Americans.

Participants will be recruited through the Chinatown Service Center and affiliated community programs. The first phase of the project involves a structured questionnaire and semi-structured interview based on the five consolidated framework for implementation research domains (intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, characteristics of individuals, implementation process). The second phase of the project involves the intervention, which will consist of a 12-week group-based music therapy program led by a certified music therapist, with two 60-minute sessions per week conducted at the Chinatown Service Center. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 will be administered pre- and post-intervention to assess mental health outcomes.

Participant recruitment and stakeholder interviews are currently ongoing for the first phase of the study. Preliminary data suggest a preference for culturally tailored, group-based delivery and the need for integration into existing community programs with language access and flexible scheduling. Through mixed-methods evaluation, stakeholder collaboration, and the use of implementation science, this study aims to inform community-based interventions that address mental health disparities and expand access to integrative care for immigrant populations.