Episode Summary
In this moving episode of Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up!, host Indrias Kassaye welcomes Dr. Rika Win, a proud MFP at the American Nurses Association alumna and rising leader in psychiatric nursing, whose life journey from Burmese refugee to Doctor of Nursing Practice exemplifies resilience, empathy, and innovation in care. With a background that spans postpartum nursing, trauma-informed behavioral health, global health engagement, and culturally responsive psychiatric care, Dr. Win brings a holistic and urgently relevant perspective to the challenges facing refugee and immigrant communities today.
Episode Notes
Drawing from her personal experience navigating the U.S. health care system as a child refugee and her professional practice working with underserved, immigrant, and unhoused populations, Dr. Win speaks candidly about the mental health toll of displacement, family separation, and systemic barriers to care. She shares how screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), implementing trauma-informed protocols, and creating community-based support systems can break generational cycles of trauma and behavioral health challenges, and support family healing.
From pediatric patients navigating life without deported parents to her pilot work establishing mindfulness and parenting support groups in shelters, Dr. Win details the practical interventions and policy shifts needed to make behavioral health more accessible and responsive. Her passionate advocacy for refugee and immigrant mental health — coupled with her call for self-care and sustainability among providers — offers invaluable insights for nurses, mental health professionals, and policymakers alike.
As part of Season 5’s Nurse the Future theme, this conversation spotlights the essential leadership role psychiatric nurses play in reshaping behavioral health systems for a more equitable and inclusive tomorrow. Tune in for a powerful conversation that highlights the enduring strength of refugee families, the transformative power of culturally informed psychiatric care, and the critical responsibility nurses carry in building futures—one success story at a time.
Nurses can earn free Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for listening to this episode. Full details will be announced at the end of the season. Learn more about Dr. Rika Win at https://emfp.org/mfp-fellows/rika-w-kemp (opens new window)