Project Ntsuag Siab
NEW HMong’s Project Ntsuag Siab initiative aims to improve mental health outcomes for the HMong community in Northeast Wisconsin through culturally informed interventions and systemic changes.
Empathy Over Shame
Today, however, it is the opposite. Many HMong youth may appear outgoing, confident and happy on the outside—but inside, they may be silently carrying deep emotional pain. This hidden struggle is what NEW HMong named as “Ntsuag Siab,” or “Orphaned Heart”—a heart that feels lost, misunderstood, and alone. It reflects the quiet suffering many endure beneath the surface, shaped by the challenge of navigating two worlds (HMong and American at the same time), conflicting expectations, and unspoken generational and historical trauma.
“Ntsuag Siab” is a metaphor—a way to understand mental health pain through a cultural lens that invites empathy instead of shame.
The HMong Community in Pain
For over 50 years, the HMong in Wisconsin have carried deep, unaddressed trauma stemming from wars, displacement, and cultural dislocation. These wounds have never been healed through systems that understand or respect HMong cultural identity. As a result, we are seeing a heartbreaking rise in:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Substance abuse
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Suicide
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Untreated mental and behavioral health challenges
We are at a critical moment—a crisis point where historical trauma, intergenerational conflict and cultural identity struggles are culminating in devastating outcomes for HMong individuals and families.
Project Ntsuag Siab: Transforming Mental Health Outcomes for the HMong Community
The Ntsuag Siab Mission
Project Ntsuag Siab is an initiative by NEW HMong dedicated to:
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Demystifying mental health and suicide within the HMong community
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Providing culturally responsive tools, education, and healing strategies
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Reframing stigma into compassion and cultural relevance
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Fostering systems of care that reflect HMong values and lived experiences
The Ntsuag Siab Vision
To heal the orphaned heart, we believe everyone deserves:
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Clarity
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Hope
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Healing
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Love
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Happiness
All while remaining connected to HMong culture, identity and values.
Why “Ntsuag Siab”?
A cultural symbol of hidden pain in HMong, “ntsuag siab” means “orphaned heart.” In traditional stories and village life in Laos, “ntsuag nos” or “orphan” is often seen as dirty and hungry; dressed in torn clothes; defeated, forgotten and hopeless. This imagery is powerful—and it resonates deeply.
Healing Must Begin with Cultural Understanding
To truly support mental health, we must create HMong community resources and services that are:
Culturally Grounded
Langauge Accessible
Community-driven
Emotionally Safe
Join Us in Creating Lasting Change for the HMong Community in Northeast Wisconsin
We invite community members, health providers and allies to support Project Ntsuag Siab. Together, we can build a future where HMong hearts are no longer orphaned—but restored, understood and embraced.