2022 Mental Health Essay Contest Awardee: Bronze

Mental Health Challenges in Young People: An Asian American Perspective

Evan, Texas

Mental health challenges in young people have always existed, but due to the advent of social media and COVID lockdowns, these issues have come to the forefront. In 2020, 1 in 6 adolescents had a major depressive episode and 1 in 3 young adults experienced a mental illness.¹ Asian American youths have been hit especially hard with the confluence of COVID and anti-Asian sentiment adding to already existing academic pressures as the “model minority.” For Asian Americans 15 to 24 years of age, suicide was the leading cause of death in 2019.² Despite these serious mental health risks, Asian Americans face treatment barriers involving stereotypes, languages, and finances. Addressing these issues will require collaboration amongst caretakers and government agencies.

At the height of COVID, I felt quite depressed with distance learning from home. I missed the live interactions at school and could not perform up to my personal standards. Then came comments like “Why don’t you go back to China?” or “Make sure you don’t give me the “kung flu.” I felt helpless. I could only respond in my mind, “I’m not from China! Don’t they know that being born in Los Angeles makes me an Angelino?” But before these situations could drive me further down a spiral, my teachers took notice and spoke to my parents. Lucky for me, this cohesive team intervened.

My parents had a heart-to-heart talk with me. They understood my drive to be flawless and the pressure I felt to succeed. They told me that despite their “tiger-like” approach to academics, they did not expect me to be perfect. They just wanted me to try my best and to learn from any failures along the way. They reassured me that my teachers also understood these difficult times with COVID quarantines and anti-Asian rhetoric. After much thought, I realized how lucky I was to have this support system. I began focusing on the positives, on those who loved me and on all the good people around me. I have felt fine since then, but I do worry about others like me.

For many Asian America youths, getting help for mental health can be hindered by stereotypes. Asian American boys, in particular, may not seek therapy since their cultures expect them to be more resilient than girls. After all, as the older brother, how can I let my little sister know when I am not feeling well emotionally? In 2018, Asians were 60% less likely than whites to receive mental health treatments.² Asian Americans also suffer from the “model minority” myth that convinces society they cannot possibly have mental illnesses. Due to this ideal image, Asian Americans often blame themselves. These individuals over-scrutinize their past experiences to find error in their actions. They view their mental health problem as a personal issue that must be endured and handled internally.

Even when Asian American youths do seek assistance, language barriers can keep them from getting adequate mental health treatments. As a diverse group from more than 20 countries, many Asian Americans do not speak English as their first language.³ Communication gaps can worsen mental health signs and symptoms. A survey by the National Alliance for Mental Illness revealed that 77 percent of Asian Americans had difficulty even talking about their mood disorders.⁴ Perhaps many of them had trouble with language. Without mental health services advertised in their native language, they may not have known where to seek help.

Mental health programs should thus embrace a wholistic approach - consider who their patients are, where they come from, and what language they speak. Providers must gain patient trust through culturally sensitive and inclusive forms of communication and interventions. Using phrases like “behavioral health services” versus “psychotherapy sessions” can remove stigmas. We should also increase bilingual mental health awareness campaigns and treatments options. Proper training of therapy professionals will help, but we also must not forget everyday caretakers like relatives, close friends, neighbors, teachers, and community leaders. This family-at-large approach to tackling mental illness will provide a nurturing therapeutic environment.

Even with best intentions, however, the financial burdens of those in need can substantially limit what we can do for them. For example, compared to their white counterparts, Asian Americans are more likely to live in poverty and less likely to afford or access mental health services.⁵ A CDC survey discovered that 1 in 3 Asian Americans with depression could not get treated by a physician due to costs.⁵ Our lawmakers and policy leaders should thus propose and strengthen laws and programs to expand mental health coverage. Given how often immigrants are uninsured or underinsured, a “Medicare-for-all” plan may eventually be the answer. Until then, we can increase funding for organizations like South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network.

Meaningful changes start from the top. President Biden’s 2023 budget aims to increase coverage and affordability via $101 billion to revamp the mental health and substance disorder system.⁶ For Asian Americans, Biden has signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to enhance the reporting of hate crimes.⁷ Furthermore, considering Asian Americans in Hawaii, Biden has pledged federal matching of state expenditures.⁷ Funding can also support mental health data collection for Asian Americans. We can gather enough information to disaggregate the data to clarify which patients face which illnesses. Only then can we make informed decisions about how to reach and treat these populations.

When it comes to mental health, Asian American youths face cultural and socioeconomic obstacles. Raising awareness and training in mental health services can remove harmful stereotypes. Therapists and insurance companies can open up their tool boxes to include Eastern or alternative treatments like acupuncture, herbal medicine, journaling, or ecotherapy. Funding for multi-language programs can increase access to mental health providers. With the right combination of caretakers and funding, I have no doubt that we can successfully knock down the barriers to much needed therapies. Just as how it takes a village to raise a child, it will take a community to treat those who suffer from mental health conditions.

References

1. NAMI. (2020). Mental Health By the Numbers: Youth & Young Adults. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/mhstats
2. HHS. (2021, May 19). Mental and Behavioral Health - Asian Americans. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=4&lvlid=54
3. Budiman, A., Ruiz, N. (2021, Apr 29). Key facts about Asian Americans, a diverse and growing population. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/04/29/key-facts-about-asian-americans/
4. NAMI. (2021, Oct 5). Communities of Color Face Greater Challenges Finding Effective Therapy, National Survey Finds. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Press-Media/Press-Releases/2021/Communities-of-Color-Face-Greater-Challenges-Finding-Effective-Therapy-National-Survey-Finds
5. CDC. (2021, Aug 26). Annual Survey Data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from CDC. (2021, Aug 26). Annual Survey Data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/annual_data/annual_data.htm
6. Yarmuth, J. (2022, Apr 4). President Biden’s Budget Strengthens Public Health and Expands Access to Health Care for All Americans. House Committee on the BUDGET. Retrieved from https://budget.house.gov/publications/report/president-biden-s-budget-strengthens-public-health-and-expands-access-health-0
7. The White House (2022, Jan 20). FACT SHEET: Biden-.Harris Administration Advances Equity and Opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities Across the Country. The White House Briefing Room. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/01/20/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-advances-equity-and-opportunity-for-asian-american-native-hawaiian-and-pacific-islander-communities-across-the-country/

NIH recognizes these talented essay winners for their thoughtfulness and creativity in addressing youth mental health. These essays are written in the students' own words, are unedited, and do not necessarily represent the views of NIH, HHS, or the federal government.

Page updated September 20, 2022