Prior to explaining the urgent necessity of the Asian community acknowledging mental illnesses, one must lay the foundation for who is Asian. Essentially Asians are anyone whose descent falls from the Asian Continent. To further understand the reason why one cannot physically look “Asian” and that is internalized racism, please read my previous article.
Now those “who classify” as an Asian and/or Asian American have been defined, it is time to further venture into the one thing they all have in common. Mental health is often overlooked and dismissed in these regions which have unfortunately trickled into future generations of Asian Americans. As an Asian American individual, I have found that my parents have only recently started to accept mental health as a tangible concept. My aunts and uncles, however, still have yet to believe in this “hoax.”
In recent studies, it has been shown that mental health is not a top priority for these Asian countries. The conversation needs to change, far too many people have become the victim of mental illnesses, then called “crazy”, “over-reactive”, and/or “faking it.” This has, in turn, caused many individuals to fear speaking out about their problems, as well as preventing them from seeking help.
This article is not meant to glorify the United States as well either as mental illness care is still inaccessible to many here! Medical and Medicaid do not cover therapists nor rehabilitation centers. On average a visit to a licensed therapist can cost an individual anywhere between $65 (USD) to $250+ (USD) (Good Therapy). Through affordable options and accessibility, many more individuals, including Asian Americans, would be more open to reaching out for professional assistance.
Lastly, I would like to end on the note – you are important to me and your existence is what makes the world a better place.
