The Importance of Mental Health: Real or Imaginary

The Importance of Mental Health: Real or Imaginary

Bailey Louie 

ART 3170-01

What is Mental Health?

    How is it that something we can not see or touch become a huge weight in our lives and become so important? Mental health is our emotional, psychological, and social well-being which affects how we feel, think, and act. There are numerous factors that contribute to your mental health including, but not limited to, biological factors, life experiences, and family history of mental health problems. 

Research and Statistical Evidence

Of Asian American and Pacific Islander adults with a mental illness, 73.1% did not receive treatment compared to 56.7% of the overall population.

According to the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) found that Asian Americans have a 17.3% overall lifetime rate of any psychiatric disorder and a 9.19% 12-month rate, despite the data provided, Asian Americans are three times less likely to seek mental health services than Whites. 

In another study conducted by The University of Maryland School of Public Health research team, 19 focus groups with 174 participants from eight Asian-American communities (Asian Indian, Cambodian, Chinese, Indonesian, Korean, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese) between the ages of 18 and 30 years old who identified at least as 1.5 or 2nd generation immigrants were observed for their needs of mental health. Several common sources of stress were found that impacted their overall mental health:

• Parental pressure to succeed in academics
•  Discussing mental health concerns is considered taboo in many Asian cultures as a result Asian Americans tend to dismiss, deny or neglect their symptoms
• Pressure to live up to the "model minority" stereotype (a view that inaccurately portrays Asian Americans as successfully integrating into mainstream culture and having overcome the challenges of racial bias)
• Family obligation based on strong traditional and cultural values 
• Discrimination due to racial or cultural background
• Difficulty in balancing two different cultures and developing a bicultural sense of self 

Why is it Important?

In my community, 66.2% of the population is Asian increasing the importance to encourage others to seek help and prioritize mental health. In Asian cultures, mental health is not classified as something important or even thought about. Parents place high expectations and responsibilities on their children in preparation for a successful and wealthy future creating large amounts of stress and anxiety for an individual. There are numerous toxic stigmas in Asian cultures that dismiss mental health issues such as "I must be successful and can not show signs of weakness", "it's a burden to share my emotions", "I'm ungrateful for all I have", etc. Leaving mental health issues untreated can be detrimental so it is essential to break these stigmas and know that it is okay to get assistance. For me personally, my mental health has not always been at its finest and I was fortunate enough to be able to talk to my family and friends about it but I've also experienced first hand seeing the impacts of refusing to acknowledge their issues and to seek help when it was needed and how destructive it was to them and their environment. 

Treatment Issues 

• Language barriers make it difficult for Asian Americans to access mental health services leading to dismiss, deny, or neglect their symptoms.
• The biggest deterrents in seeking professional help include lack of resources available and the stigma surrounding mental health issues
• The majority of young Asian Americans prefer to seek support from friends, family, and religious community members rather than from professional help. 

How to Offer Support 

• Be there to talk and listen to them 
• Find out if the person is getting the care that he or she needs – if not, connect them to help 
• Express your concern and support
• Educating other people so they understand the facts about mental health problems and do not discriminate
• Treat those with mental health problems with respect, compassion, and empathy

Works Cited

“Asian American/Pacific Islander Communities and Mental Health.” Mental Health America, 2020, www.mhanational.org/issues/asian-americanpacific-islander-communities-and-mental-health.

“For Friends and Family Members.” For Friends and Family Members | MentalHealth.gov, 2017, www.mentalhealth.gov/talk/friends-family-members.

Nishi, Koko. “Mental Health Among Asian-Americans.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, 2012, www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/asian-american/article-mental-health.

Tanap, Ryann. “Why Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders Don't Go to Therapy.” NAMI, 2019, www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/July-2019/Why-Asian-Americans-and-Pacific-Islanders-Don-t-go-to-Therapy.