The Importance Of Asian American Mental Health Resources & Health Services

Mental health affects every individual in deeply personal and unique ways based on their lived experiences. For many, the path to understanding and healing begins not only with recognizing emotional challenges but also with acknowledging the cultural, historical, and systemic forces that shape them.

Within Asian American communities, experiences and beliefs around mental health can be influenced by family expectations, cultural traditions, and generational patterns as well as by discrimination and systemic barriers. Here, we’ll examine the state of Asian American mental health today, explore unique challenges faced by these communities, and the importance of culturally competent mental health and public health services.

Understanding Asian American mental health today

The term Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) encompasses a broad range of people from over 40 different ethnicities and many different nationalities. Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Hmong, Cambodian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Native Hawaiian, and Asian Indian populations are just a few examples, among many others. Religions and spiritual practices also vary widely in this group, ranging from Buddhism and Hinduism to Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Indigenous traditions, and others.

This diversity means that mental health experiences and concerns in AAPI communities are far from uniform. Many groups carry the scars of historical trauma while others navigate complex identity issues as children of immigrants, among many other diverse experiences that can affect mental well-being.

How culture can shape mental health experiences

Like any external or environmental influence, cultural traditions, standards, and expectations can impact an individual’s mental health. For individuals from some Asian cultures, mental health concerns are seen as something to live with on one’s own or even deny. 

Seeking professional help may be viewed as shameful, especially if it might reflect negatively on one’s family. Instead, individuals may turn to informal support systems, such as close relatives or spiritual leaders, who may not be able to address a need for clinical support. 

In addition, children of immigrants from Asian countries and other parts of the world frequently shoulder unique expectations. They are often expected to excel academically, serve as translators for family members, and/or take on caregiving roles, sometimes from a very young age. The pressure to succeed that may also be present can lead to chronic stress and emotional strain, often without recognition or support. These are just a few examples of tensions that can deeply influence the mental health landscape of some groups in the AAPI community. 

Availability of mental health resources

Many do not seek mental health services because the health system itself is often unequipped to meet the needs of AAPI individuals. A lack of culturally informed mental health providers can lead to feelings of alienation or frustration during care, and discrimination in healthcare settings is not uncommon. For people whose identities are closely tied to their cultural background, working with someone who doesn't understand or respect that context can make therapy feel impersonal, unhelpful, and even harmful.

Stressors and stigma often faced by those in Asian American communities

For many Asian Americans, mental health challenges stem from a complex mix of internal, cultural, and societal pressures. These stressors often interact in subtle yet powerful ways, shaping the individual’s ability to cope, heal, and connect. 

The “model minority” myth

The “model minority” myth refers to a discriminatory stereotype that suggests that all AAPI individuals are successful, disciplined, and economically stable while downplaying real-world challenges. This can also reinforce the assumption that AAPI individuals don’t need mental health resources or social support.

Alongside this is the “perpetual foreigner” stereotype, or the idea that no matter how long someone has lived in the US, they are always seen as outsiders, which can affect some AAPI people. These myths and stereotypes are part of a form of oppression that can lead to social exclusion, racial microaggressions, and systemic exclusion. These experiences can deeply affect one’s sense of emotional and even physical health, even without being linked directly to mental illness.

Cultural expectations and stigma

Like with families of any background, mental health stigma can appear in AAPI families. It can take many forms in some Asian American households, from criticism of emotions and emphasis on silence over sharing to pressure to “be strong,” all of which may discourage open conversations about mental distress. 

When one is facing difficult emotions or life situations, they may be told to pray more, focus on school, or “just get over it.” Parents may compare their child’s achievements or well-being to others’, minimizing their pain. These messages, even when well-meaning, can increase feelings of inadequacy and disconnection.

Asian American mental health statistics

To better understand the state of Asian American mental health, it can help to become familiar with a few key statistics:

• Leading cause of death: In 2022, suicide was the leading cause of death for Asian Americans aged 15 to 24.
• High PTSD rates among refugees: Around 70% of Southeast Asian refugees receiving mental health services were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), linked to trauma before and after immigration to the US.
• Lower mental health treatment rates: In 2023, Asian American adults were 50% less likely to receive mental health treatment compared to non-Hispanic white adults.
• Lower rates of major depression diagnosis: Only 4.8% of non-Hispanic Asian adults reported experiencing a major depressive episode in 2023, compared to 9.1% of non-Hispanic whites. This may reflect underdiagnosis due to stigma and availability of care.
• Lower utilization of prescription treatment: Just 6.5% of Asian American adults received mental health treatment through prescription medication in 2023, less than one-third the rate of non-Hispanic white adults (20.6%).

Intergenerational dynamics and mental health challenges

First-generation immigrants and, in particular, refugees often carry the weight of violence, displacement, and loss. That trauma can be passed down through silence, hypervigilance, or rigid family dynamics.

Second-generation children may feel this inherited tension, even if they don’t fully understand its roots. Combined with their own experiences of discrimination or cultural disconnection, it can create a complex web of psychological strain. These unspoken legacies can contribute to mental disorders even in the absence of visible distress.

Communication gaps between generations in Asian American families

The common expectation to succeed academically and professionally, which is present for some AAPI individuals, is only one part of the pressure. In some AAPI households, first-generation American children must also navigate household roles as translators, caregivers, and cultural interpreters. These responsibilities may begin early and continue into adulthood.

At the same time, many are raised in households where emotional language is limited. Words for depression, anxiety, or trauma might not exist or be commonly used in the family’s native language. This can make it difficult to explain one’s feelings, especially in regards to mental health services that rely on verbal expression. As a result, some young Asian Americans may feel isolated or unsure of how to bridge the gap between tradition and their need for support.

What are culturally responsive mentally health services? 

Culturally responsive (also called culturally sensitive or culturally competent) mental health care is about understanding the deeper cultural context in which someone’s mental health experience exists. This involves providers being able to recognize family expectations, religious beliefs, and historical backgrounds and creating spaces where clients can be themselves without having to educate their therapist on basic cultural realities.

Training providers to understand cultural context when providing mental health resources

To promote more inclusive mental health care, training mental health providers to understand cultural nuances can be a helpful starting point. When providers are aware of how shame, family roles, migration stories, and discrimination can affect someone’s emotional life, they are more likely to be able to offer care that feels safe and validating.

Additionally, this highlights the need for more individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in the mental health field. The presence of diverse therapists can send a powerful message that mental health services are for everyone and can make it easier for diverse individuals to find understanding and informed care.

How therapy can support AAPI individuals

Therapy can be a space to explore emotional challenges tied to cultural identity, family expectations, or trauma. Particularly when culturally sensitive, therapy allows for exploration without judgment, offering both opportunities for reflection and practical tools.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one commonly used modality that can help clients identify patterns of thought shaped by cultural messages or other factors. For example, for Asian Americans facing challenges due to perfectionism or fear of disappointing family members, CBT might offer ways to reframe those beliefs without discarding them entirely.

There are many resources available for finding culturally competent care for AAPI clients, such as:

• The Asian Mental Health Collective
• The Asian American Psychological Association
• The National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network 
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's resources on destigmatizing mental health in AAPI communities 

The potential benefits of online mental health services

Online therapy has opened new doors in mental health availability. Though more research is required regarding online therapy and Asian American mental health in particular, studies suggest that online therapy can often be just as effective as in-person therapy for treating conditions like anxiety and depression in diverse populations. 

Additionally, online platforms often offer availability of a wider range of therapists than what may be available to a person locally, which can make it easier to find someone who shares or can be sensitive to your cultural experiences. Online therapy can also often be more affordable for those navigating financial barriers or a lack of insurance.