Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander, or AAPI, community faced violent discrimination as people blamed them for being the cause of the outbreak. Hate crimes and xenophobia worsened, characterized by incidents of physical attacks, verbal harassment, and alienation of AAPI communities. Following the pandemic, Dr. Gilbert Gee, a professor at UCLA, explained in this article that these events have had lasting effects on the mental health of AAPI members, resulting in diagnoses of depressive and clinical anxiety disorders.
A depressed Asian woman.
Image Source: Kilito Chan
However, mental health stigma within Asian American cultures prevents individuals from seeking help. In the same source, Dr. Brandon Ito, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at UCLA, explains that Asian Americans are 50% less likely to reach out for mental health services compared to other races. Traditionally, it is not uncommon to see Asian Americans avoiding conversations about mental health, potentially due to concerns about shame. Another reason why mental health topics may be considered taboo could be due to stereotypes like the model minority myth, where Asians are viewed as high-achieving, successful individuals. The article further highlights a study showing that the model-minority myth is the greatest stressor for Asian American youth. This myth exacerbates issues regarding mental health stigma as AAPIs feel like they have to fit a mold of perfection and cannot acknowledge feelings such as depression. Alternatively, the hesitation around mental health discussion could come from the children’s desire to move forward from their immigrant parents’ traumas and challenges. Other factors that can add to the challenge of Asian Americans receiving adequate support include language barriers, especially for immigrants, and no insurance to cover their treatment.
With 24.8 million AAPIs in the U.S., nearly a fourth of this population resides in California. To address the necessity for increased mental health access within these widespread AAPI communities, Dr. Jeffrey Husu, a cardiologist at UCLA, states the need for more culturally competent clinics in locations with high Asian populations. This would ensure that patients get adequate care from healthcare workers who take into consideration the effect racism may have on people’s health. Further, Gee emphasizes that better representation of the consequences of discrimination on physical and mental health in health professional textbooks can make a difference in more equitable healthcare.
Featured Image: Studio Romantic
