"Esme..? Are you alright?"

The leading cause of death in Asian American women ages 15-24 is suicide. Among Asian American adults with any mental illness, only 25% reported mental health treatment utilization. Known as "hidden ideators", Asian American women at high risk for suicide suffer quietly and die quietly.

Directed by Vincent B. Wang, Esme was commissioned by Ingrid Chen, a recipient of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (“SAMHSA”) Minority Fellowship Program.

Written by Ingrid Chen

Directed/Animated by Vincent B Wang.

In an effort to create a deeply meaningful narrative that connects with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, we made sure to craft the film in two languages. Consequently, we have also made a version available in Mandarin Chinese.