A very prominent issue in our society that is not discussed enough is the mental health issues that minorities face. Particularly, Asian Americans suffer from more mental health issues than many other races in the US, yet receive the least amount of care. In 2017, the American Psychiatric Association did a study and found that over 2.7 million Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders suffer from either a mental health disorder or substance abuse. Many believe that Asian American immigrants suffer from PTSD due to the trauma involved with their experiences before and during their immigration process. Amongst teenagers, suicide is a leading cause of death in Asian Americans between the ages of 15 and 21.
There have been many studies done to analyze why Asian Americans receive the least amount of mental health support in the United States. Asian Americans are perceived to achieve a high level of socioeconomic status, which causes many to feel an abundance of societal and familial pressure to reach these expectations. In Asian American communities, mental illnesses can sometimes be considered something to be embarrassed about, which is why many people don’t ask for the help they need.
It is important to educate yourself and others around you about different mental illnesses and the stigmas that relate to them. Specifically, minorities face many mental illnesses that sometimes can go unnoticed. By checking up on your friends and family and letting them know to always come to you if they are struggling with their mental health, you can help decrease this negative stigma around mental illness.
SOURCES:
https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=4&lvlid=54
https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/cultural-competency/education/mental-health-facts