In a recent conversation, Dr. Rama Rao—a leading voice in psychiatry with over five decades of experience—joined the president of the American Psychiatric Association’s Caucus of International Medical Graduate (IMG) Psychiatrists to reflect on his journey and shed light on the growing suicide crisis among immigrant youth. Dr. Rao, currently a professor of psychiatry at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, shared insight dram from his expertise in child and adolescent psychiatry, family therapy, psychoanalysis, and social psychiatry.

Dr. Rao’s path into child psychiatry was shaped by a deep curiosity about human development across cultures. Originally trained in adult psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, he soon realized the importance of understanding the early experiences of growing up in America. This realization led him to pursue a child psychiatry fellowship and, later, family therapy, deeply influenced by his collaboration with Dr. Judith Landau.

As an immigrant physician from India, Dr. Rao carries a multicultural lens that shapes his approach to mental health. He describes India as a “tossed salad”—a confluence of civilizations and cultures that mirror the evolving diversity of the United States. This background, he says, naturally fostered in him a respect for pluralism and adaptability, both of which are crucial when supporting immigrant families and marginalized youth.

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10 to 24 in the United States. Dr. Rao underscored this with urgency: “When a society loses its children to hopelessness, something has gone wrong at a fundamental level, at home, at school, and within the culture.” Dr. Rao sees the issue not only as a psychiatric one, but as deeply social and familial. While biological vulnerabilities matter, he believes the sharp increase over recent decades stems from a “perfect storm” of factors: identity confusion, social isolation, family breakdown, cultural disconnection, and excessive academic and digital pressure. "Youth today are growing up in a culture of comparison and disconnection," he noted. "We have created a system where self-worth is measured by likes, scores, and unattainable ideals."

His integrative approach underscores the need to involve families, communities, and culturally competent care to address these challenges effectively. Dr. Rao’s journey reminds us that healing begins not just in the clinic but in understanding one another’s stories, cultures, and families. Through a blend of clinical wisdom and human empathy, he offers a model for what it means to care, listen, and lead.