Why Asian Americans Don’t Seek Help for Mental Illness

Mental health stigma affects all ethnicities, cultures, and nationalities, but Asian Americans may be more impacted than most.

The National Latino and Asian American Study reported that while 18% of the general U.S. population sought mental health services and resources, only 8.6% of Asian Americans did so. A related study found that white U.S. citizens take advantage of mental health services at three times the rate of Asian Americans.

So, why don’t most Asian Americans seek help for mental illness?

Pressures in the Community

One University of Maryland study examined the mental health needs of young Asian American adults. Study participants were either born in India, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, or Vietnam or recently immigrated from those countries.

The researchers learned that these individuals faced a range of pressures and problems that discouraged them from seeking help for mental health concerns. Some said they felt tremendous pressure to be academically or professionally successful. To stay focused, they ignored or denied symptoms. Others cited cultural concerns. They explained that mental health was a taboo topic in their communities.

Geoffrey Liu, MD, explains stigma in the community. “For some Asian Americans, there’s a real sense that your value as a person depends on your ability to take care of your family and community.” For some, the pressure of being part of a “model minority” stood in the way of treatment.

Many Asian Americans see themselves as part of a group that seamlessly integrated into their new society. They characterize themselves as intelligent, industrious, and fully in charge of their lives. For many, admitting to “weakness” would be letting down the entire community.

“It’s easy to say that the reason Asian Americans don’t seek care is the way their culture stigmatizes mental illness,” says Liu. “That stance, though, ignores the role we all play in enhancing stigma by allowing dangerous stereotypes, like ‘model minority,’ to persist.”

Facing the Stigma

Underlying all these factors is mental health stigma.

Asian Americans fear being thought of as weak or “crazy” for having a psychological disorder—perhaps more than any other group. Shame and embarrassment force many to struggle in silence and never seek help.

Some Asian Americans have found ways to work around the stigma. Most participants in the University of Maryland study reported they reached out to friends, relatives, and members of their church for support instead of contacting mental health professionals.

Another alternative for some Asian Americans is to seek medical help for a psychological problem. Asking a medical doctor to address a racing heartbeat, insomnia, or constant headaches carries none of the shame of admitting to anxiety, depression, or addiction, even if a psychiatric disorder is the cause.

Overcoming Barriers to Care

Language barriers and a lack of awareness of where and how to get help have prevented many from receiving needed treatment. To address this, many mental health professionals have called for more bilingual services and better coordination between health systems and community resources that serve Asian Americans.

Another solution is to reconsider how mental health services are provided to Asian Americans. Placing mental health clinicians in general medical clinics could not only decrease the barriers but also the stigma in receiving services.

Although Asian Americans still do not seek help at the same rates as other groups in the U.S., there are signs that the situation is improving.

The National Latino and Asian American Study revealed that second-generation immigrants are more likely than their parents to receive a mental health diagnosis.

Moreover, public information efforts to increase awareness of mental illness and fight stigma are encouraging people of all backgrounds to speak up and ask for help.

Excerpted from “Why Asian Americans Don’t Seek Help for Mental Illness” from McClean Hospital. Read the full article online.

Source: McClean Hospital | Why Asian Americans Don’t Seek Help for Mental Illness, https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/why-asian-americans-dont-seek-help-mental-illness | © 2024 McLean Hospital

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