Mental health of Asian Americans
Studies suggest that Asian American patients tend to ignore the emotional symptoms of mental illness and only report physical ones to doctors, resulting in misdiagnosis.
Due to the academic pressure as well as the isolation felt by many who are away from home for the first time, depression can potentially lead to suicide under these circumstances.
These types of cultural stigmas can lead to fewer people reaching out for much-needed help, therefore causing heightened suicide rates.
[10] Research studies have determined that Southeast Asian refugees experience a higher level of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared with all other demographics.
[7] Asian Americans tend to focus more on physical discomforts and do not necessarily view mental health struggles as something outside of a person's control.
[2] The daily family life of many Asian Americans tends to contribute to his stigma, as children are encouraged to control their emotions and therefore learn to avoid sharing them with others.
"[4] Additional research studies have found that both in-patient and out-patient hospital resources have extremely low rates of utilization by Asian Americans compared with all other ethnicities.
[15] This can cause Asian Americans to feel as though they need to blend in with the rest of the population to maintain a positive façade, even when struggling with mental health issues themselves.
A possibility that may contribute to these declining mental health rates is that traditional Asian culture leans more conservative and may not fully accept a person transitioning genders.
Asian American youth has higher rates of suicide ideation and lower self-esteem compared with their white counterparts.
Some of these aspects of mental health can be attributed to academic pressures, but they can manifest due to being surrounded by a white majority culture that may be more difficult to relate to for Asian American students.
[17] Academic pressure also tends to manifest itself in situations in which the success of a child's education determines the financial wellbeing of an entire family.
[7] The model minority myth was also furthered by the cultural intertwining nature of expectations for academic success placed upon Asian American students.
Studies convey that although Asian Americans are stereotyped as being academically and socioeconomically successful, they are actually experiencing higher rates of distress in comparison with all other racial groups.
[19] The model minority myth isolates Asian Americans because it alienates and ignores their struggles, causing further mental health implications.
Facing this pressure to 'fit in' yet also hold onto your cultural past is a large contributor to poor mental health amongst Asian Americans.
This myth also contributes to the pressure already placed on Asian American students by cultural factors, causing a further decline in mental health.
Through a study conducted on a Christian college campus, the impact of invalidation by one's peers on Asian American students' mental health is revealed.
When students were unable to find a sense of belonging, they questioned their own identity and some even attempted to hide parts of themselves in order to fit into their community.
These instances of misdiagnosis combined with negative experiences with medical professionals discourages Asian Americans from seeking out mental health support in the future.
Distrust of the medical system in America contributes to the reasons why Asian Americans first turn to their own cultural practices and healing methods to cure symptoms brought about by mental disorders prior to seeking professional assistance.
Bringing together people under this demographic who could relate to one another's experiences was very effecting in countering stigma and driving home the importance of mental health care.
[2] A final sector that healthcare providers should be aware of when addressing Asian American patients, is that they have been shown to report physical symptoms of mental health disorders instead of emotional ones.
