ETNA is pleased to share the latest contribution to ETNAblog, written by Mya Yee Nandar, MSN, APRN, FPA FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, Family Medicine and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
In “Beneath the Rainbow: Caring for Homelessness and Mental Health in Hawaiʻi,” Mya reflects on the realities of homelessness and severe mental illness in Hawaiʻi, looking beyond familiar images of beaches, rainbows and paradise to the experiences of people living in cars, tents, parks and other insecure environments.
Drawing on her work in street medicine, family medicine and psychiatric mental health care, Mya explores the complex and interconnected factors that can contribute to homelessness, including poverty, housing costs, trauma, addiction, untreated mental illness, physical health needs and barriers within health and social care systems.
At the heart of her practice are three guiding principles: show respect, build trust and preserve dignity.
Mya describes how meaningful care often begins long before diagnosis or treatment. For people who have experienced homelessness, trauma, psychosis, discrimination or repeated rejection, building trust may take time and depend on small but consistent acts of compassion, patience and reliability.
The blog also reflects on Mya’s own transcultural journey. Originally from Burma (now Myanmar), she came to Hawaiʻi as an international nursing student and later worked with assertive community treatment teams in the Chicago area. These experiences have shaped her commitment to culturally responsive care for people and communities who are frequently overlooked or underserved.
She writes:
Homelessness and mental illness are not simply medical issues. They are moral, social, cultural, and public health concerns. Housing is healthcare. Mental health treatment is preventive care. Providing culturally respectful care is a matter of justice.”
The latest ETNAblog is a powerful reminder of the role nurses and healthcare professionals can play in seeing the person beyond the diagnosis, recognising cultural and social context, and protecting dignity in every encounter.
About the author
Mya Yee Nandar is a dual board-certified family medicine and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate at Yale University.
Her career has focused on expanding culturally responsive care for underserved communities, including refugees, people experiencing homelessness, and individuals living with complex medical, mental health and substance use challenges.
As co-founder of the Transcultural Nursing Society in Fort Wayne Chapter, Indiana, Mya served a large refugee population affected by war, displacement and trauma. Her work and research focus on culturally congruent care that bridges modern medical practice with the needs, values and lived experiences of diverse ethnic communities.
She has also been recognised with the AANP State Award for Excellence in Illinois.
