Asian American Mental Health and Stigma
You’re fine, nothing is wrong. Therapy is for crazy people. Don’t air out our dirty laundry with anyone. We need to save face. You just need to try harder.
If you grew up in an Asian American household, chances are high that you may have heard one or more of these messages.
Mental health stigma in Asian American communities has real and tangible consequences. For example, studies indicate that Asian Americans are the least likely racial group in America to seek mental health services, maybe even three times less likely than other racial groups, according to some studies. When people are not receiving the proper attention that they need - imagine you broke your ankle and never sought medical attention - it can have heavy consequences.
So why is mental health so stigmatized within Asian American communities?
Shame
“Dishonor on your whole family! Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your cow!” This comedic diatribe by Mushu in the Disney movie Mulan, as amusing as it is, also perfectly communicates the role of shame in the Asian American experience. It is common for Asian American cultures to prioritize protection from shame over everything else, including the shame of a ‘disability’ of mental illness. Ableism biases paired with the cultural favoritism towards the highly productive, the high producing, the high achieving, and the materially successful, set the stage for unkind views for any individual who doesn’t meet those cultural expectations. Mental health is seen as a morally wrong disability, and if someone struggles with mental health, they can be seen as ‘less than’, or that there is something ‘wrong’ with them. These views that equate mental illness as a disability, ableist prejudiced mindsets, beliefs that someone who doesn’t meet cultural expectations are less desirable, and the cultural focus on protection of shame, all compound together to create a powerful stigma against mental health in the Asian American community.
Lack of Understanding
Many times, it is due to a simple as a lack of understanding, or misunderstanding, about mental health. For example, it’s not uncommon for Asian Americans to never have learned about mental health in their youth. In fact, many report that it was not until they were adults that they learned about things like Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, or anything related to mental health. The lack of the proper framework to conceptualize and understand mental health difficulties can contribute to a misunderstanding of experiences that can also lead to stigma. Not to mention, this lack of understanding could also lead to unhelpful solutions to that only add to the shame and stigma - solutions like you just need to try harder, pray more, things will be better if you only did XYZ. All these can lead someone to ignore, deny, or simply be unaware of their mental health struggles.
These are just two factors of many that influence the experience of stigma of mental health in Asian American communities. Other factors like, the beliefs of elders that mental health does not exist, that the younger generation should not complain because they have been given precious opportunities due to their parents’ sacrifices, being seen as weak or sensitive (if you’re a man), being seen as too emotional or unruly, being taught to pursue success regardless of the emotional or mental strain, are all important to consider when unpacking stigma in Asian American mental health.
What can we do about it?
Although there are so many components and factors that contribute to the stigma, beginning to understand the reason for the stigma of mental health can give us the platform to engage with the stigma differently.
Understand Your Own Internalized Stigmas
We all hold invisible beliefs that shape our view and experience of the world. Examine yours - what invisible ideas do you have about mental health and mental illness? And how do those ideas influence what you communicate to others about what it means to struggle with mental health? And more importantly, how does it influence your own experiences with mental health?
Normalize Mental Health
Open the door to talk about mental health. You talking candidly about it might give your friend the permission they have been waiting for to share about their own experiences. Reclaim the power from the stigma, and use it to normalize experiences with mental health.
Advocate for Mental Health
It’s unlikely that someone would be shamed for visiting the doctor several times every week for dialysis treatments for diabetes. In fact, they might even be shown compassion, that they are doing something so grueling to take care of their bodies. The same should be given to those who are visiting a mental health professional for their mental wellbeing. Advocate for mental health to be just as important and valued as physical health, whether that’s with your family, your friends, or your colleagues. They are all parts of our wellbeing.
If you would like to speak to a therapist about your experiences with stigma about mental health, please contact us for a phone consultation.
Writer disclaimer - “Asian American” is a term that encapsulates a huge array of communities and cultures. This article is not meant to treat the Asian American experience as a monolith, but to offer some understanding of the stigma surrounding mental health for some in the Asian American community. The author recognizes that these experiences might not be relatable or true to everyone who identifies as Asian American.