In light of the recent influx of hate crimes towards Asian Americans, the Honesty Hour Podcast would like to touch upon an unspoken crisis that many Asian Americans face, their mental health.
Research tells us that 37% of Asian Americans reported poor mental health status, according to a study by the CDC, and while 18% of the US population seek mental health services, only 8.6% of Asian Americans do so. Not only do many Asian Americans struggle with poor mental health, but they are also unlikely to seek the help that they need. Nearly two months ago, a 19-year-old Asian American, Christian Hall, was having a mental health crisis when he was shot by Pennsylvania police, despite having his hands up. Unfortunately, many Asian Americans do not know how to face their mental health issues.
Some might wonder why seeking mental health support is difficult for Asian Americans.
There are many reasons cited for why it is difficult for Asian Americans to seek help, but some include:
Feeling the pressure to be academically or professionally successful. In order to stay focused, they ignore symptoms.
The topic of mental health is taboo. In some cultures, one’s value as a person comes from their ability to care for their family. Mental illness is therefore seen as an inability to care for others.
The fear or shame of being thought of as weak.
Some solutions to these issues have been proposed, mainly regarding the accessibility of these services. Some have said that there should be a reconsideration of how mental health services are provided, such as placing mental health clinicians in general medical clinics. This could reduce stigma in receiving services. Some have also proposed placing mental health clinicians in student dorms so that college students can receive immediate access.
During these trying times, and especially with many tragic hate crimes towards Asian Americans, it is vital to recognize these difficulties that many Asian Americans face and to provide our support to the community.
Some additional resources for the Asian American community:
Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA)
Asian American Health Initiative
southasiantherapists.org
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
-Ethan Wang, Honesty Hour Content Creator
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