BY ROB WU CENTRAL NC
PUBLISHED 3:30 PM ET MAY 08, 2024
RALEIGH, N.C. — Stigmas surrounding mental health affect people of all cultures and ethnicities, especially within Asian American communities. Studies have shown a troubling silence: a vast majority of Asian Americans with mental illness are not seeking help.
What You Need To Know
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month as well as Mental Health Awareness Month
Studies have shown Asian American adults are least likely to seek mental health services of any ethnic group
A 2021 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found just 25% of Asian adults with a mental illness received services
According to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, just 25% of Asian adults with a mental illness received mental health services in 2021, a number far lower than any other ethnic group.
“There are two key things that really come into play,” said Janice Cuaresma, a mental health counselor. “It’s the culture and family that contribute to that.”
In many Asian cultures, there’s a strong emphasis on family honor and reputation, which can make individuals more reluctant to seek mental health help for fear of bringing shame or embarrassment to their family.
“Or maybe people come from a family where we don’t talk about our business with outsiders, or it’s taboo to talk about that with strangers,” Cuaresma adds.
Cultural and social norms around mental health often result in it becoming a topic that’s not openly discussed.
“I didn’t really have that much exposure to mental health growing up,” Cuaresma said. “I didn’t really have words or understanding of what anxiety or depression was.”
A turning point for her came during the COVID-19 pandemic. She worked in digital marketing in California for automotive clients like Toyota, Kia and Hyundai but resigned when a poor work environment left her feeling unfulfilled. The stress from difficulty finding work during COVID, coupled with her father’s Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, took a toll.
“I was not in a good place,” Cuaresma said. “In talks with my partner, we kind of understood, this is becoming an issue. That was part of the impetus to get help.”
