Why are Asian Americans less likely to seek and utilize mental health services? Also, have you ever wondered why some people have more difficulties accessing particular services, such as mental health, despite knowing that mental health is paramount for one’s well-being?

Poor mental health is a big problem. Based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, approximately 37 percent of Asian American adults, around 7.7 million people, reported poor mental health status in 2017 (Maxwell & Kwon, 2018). The National Alliance for Mental Health illness (NAMI) found that an estimated 77 percent of Asian Americans with mood disorders struggled to talk about their mental condition compared to their white counterparts, who were around 69 percent (Galleti, 2022). Mental health is a problem that needs to be solved.

Why is there a such racial disparity in accessing health care?

Several barriers prevent Asian Americans from seeking such a service. Most often, there is a misconception that Asian Americans do not need mental health services. Moreover, the rising healthcare cost prevents so many people from accessing the care they need. Besides this, discrimination, stigma, language barriers, and insufficient cultural competency and diversity within the mental health field make the problem more complex (Maxwell & Kwon, 2018). These factors contribute to people not accessing healthcare services.

Stigma is one of the principal barriers that prevent Asian Americans from seeking mental health services. According to a professor from UC Berkeley’s School of Social Welfare, there is some Asian cultures believe that mental issues are the outcome of a person’s past life wrongdoings. Therefore, this belief leads people to accept mental health disease as a hardship they must endure instead of seeking professional help and treatment (Galleti, 2022). Stigma is such a most significant barrier because it creates shame about not only mental issue but also promote a lack of awareness around resources that are available. Furthermore, racial stereotypes make it harder for people to seek professional help. 

Additionally, the “model minority myth” is another hurdle that blocks Asian Americans from seeking help for mental well-being because it creates the illusion that the community does not have any problems. This also pressures people to hide their mental problems and not reach out for help (Galleti, 2022). Moreover, there are many people who feel that they must succeed and push themselves to fulfill the needs of their family members back home.

As stated by Maxwell and Kwon in the article, “The model minority myth can prevent disabled APAs [Asian Pacific Americans] from asking for help, accessing appropriate services and accommodations, and self-identifying as a person with a disability. It is critical that the disability rights movement is aware of the model minority myth and addresses it in its programs and practices.” (Maxwell & Kwon, 2018). 

There are various ways that can contribute to improving access to mental health services in Asian American communities.

Provide affordable access to mental health services: Using national survey data from the CDC, the Center for American Progress stated that one in three Asian Americans diagnosed with depression could not use doctor services due to its cost. Therefore, improving access to healthcare can help our community to seek health services.

Remove language and stigmatic barriers to mental health services: An estimate of 35 percent of Asian Americans have limited English proficiency, and about 77 percent speak in their native language (non-English speaking) at home. Therefore, those foreign-born Asian Americans would benefit from services that provide better language accessibility in mental health services.

Promote cultural competency and diversity among mental health staff: The bias and cultural incompetency across healthcare professionals pose more barriers for Asian Americans while seeking mental health services. Asian Americans noted that they experience discrimination while visiting health clinics or doctors. Based on the study, the experience for Asian American immigrants is even worse because one in six reported discrimination (Maxwell & Kwon, 2018).As a result, providing a culturally diverse health staff might satisfy the needs of our community.

Taking care of our mental health is important because it will help us function well and perform our responsibility. 

References

Maxwell, C., & Kwon, L. (2018, October 10). Four ways to access to mental health services in Asian American communities. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/4-ways-improve-access-mental-health-services-asian-american-communities/#:~:text=Asian%20Americans%20are%20more%20likely,further%20exacerbate%20this%20critical%20issue

Galleti, G. (2022, February 2). How the mental health system fails Asian Americans — and how to help. California Health Report. Solutions for health equity. https://www.calhealthreport.org/2022/02/02/heres-why-many-asian-americans-dont-get-mental-health-care-and-how-to-help/