Depression Diversity: Mental health in Asian American Culture

Over one in five teens have a diagnosable mental health disorder like anxiety or depression. In the US alone, 16.2 million people suffer from depression, and 9.1 percent are Asian Indians. Moreover, suicide is now the second leading cause of death among Asian Americans between 15 and 34. 

According to the National Latino and Asian American Study, 18 percent of the general US population sought mental health resources and services, but only 8.6 percent of Asian Americans do it. The study also revealed that white US citizens take three times more mental health services than Asian Americans. 

Mental health disorders among Asian American teens are steadily increasing, but there is a severe lack of awareness and acknowledgment among Asia families that need to be addressed.

Getting over the stigma 

In most Asian American households, mental health is seen as a stigma instead of an illness that can gradually improve with the right therapy and counseling. Asian Americans often fear being called crazy, weak, or even psychotic if their families ever discover their mental health issues. As a result, many never seek any help or even acknowledge the fact that they need professional help at all.  

 Even those teens who finally gain the courage to tell their parents about their degrading mental health are often shunned away by parents or not taken seriously. A big reason behind this is that most Asian Americans, especially Indian families, often see mental illness as something very severe – where a person has a complete psychotic breakdown or goes crazy. 

Most don't understand that mental illness is an invisible illness that can happen to anybody at any point in their lives. Just because a person is functioning well, performing their everyday work and responsibilities, doesn't mean they are okay. They might still be going through a lot of stress internally, and without the right therapy at the right time, things might only worsen for them. 

 
Overcoming the cultural barriers

Even if Asian American teens can access mental health professionals to seek help, finding a therapist or counselor who can resonate and understand their experience growing up is not easy. Most Asian American teens have migrant parents, and their experiences are very different from teenagers whose families have lived in the country for generations.  Studies have shown that language/ cultural barriers and lack of awareness can prevent many from seeking help.  

 Most Asian Americans are born migrants who have had to establish their ground in a whole new country while trying their best to retain and keep their culture alive. They face difficulties in their professional and personal lives every day, which are unique to them. Going to a therapist who doesn't understand the dynamics of an American Indian family can do more harm than good to teenagers at a very tender age.  

Final words 

Because of the increased pressure from society and the sudden uncertainties related to the pandemic, which has forced people to have reduced social interactions and restrict themselves to their homes, many teens are now more vulnerable than ever to mental health problems. Therefore, it is important to give teens the proper emotional support, guidance, and access to mental health professionals. Moreover, it is essential to build awareness around mental illness to destigmatize it and find the right professionals. They can understand the trials and tribulations of the Asian American teens and sympathize with them.