Is there a silent mental health epidemic among Asian Canadian women? If so, why and what can be doneabout it?

Dr. Hyeouk Chris Hahm found Asian American women had elevated rates of mental health issues, specifically depression, anxiety, suicidality, and self-injury. The leading cause of death in Asian American females between 20 and 24 was found to be suicide. In Ontario, Canada, a study found Chinese immigrants when compared to black, white, and South Asian immigrants, had the highest self-reported mental health issues. These alarming statistics are puzzling when one considers that Asian Americans were reported to have the fewest mental health diagnoses of all ethnic groups. This group also had the lowest rates of prescribed medicine and treatment for mental health disorders. These statistics seem incongruent and paint two different pictures, at first glance.

A deeper explanation is required. Dr. Hahm also found that Asian American women did not frequently access mental health services. Young Asian Americans with mental health issues were found to be untreated and overlooked in about 80% of cases in educational and mental health settings. To make matters worse, minority clients are also reported to terminate therapy prematurely. A grim picture is beginning to form of Asians living in North America, suffering silently with mental health issues, and not accessing the supports in place. When the burden of the illness is too much, it becomes a dire situation with tragic consequences.

As a student psychotherapist and Asian Canadian female, I am curious to learn more about this demographic and how to remedy this problem.

Busting Mental Health Myths

There is often stigmatization and misunderstanding about mental health issues in Asian culture. Many young Asians feared being seen as “crazy” or weak by others, thus preventing them from seeking out mental health care. Mental health myths need to be highlighted and deconstructed. Are you ready to bust some mental health myths together?

Myth #1: Mental health issues do not stem from personal failures, weaknesses, or character flaws.

Myth #2: Having a mental health issue means you are “crazy” or “insane”.

Myth #3: Mental health issues are the family’s fault and evidence of their wrongdoing.

Myth #4: Mental health issues are the result of poor religious devotion.

Myth #5: If I am diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, I will 100% always have that disorder.

Myth #6: I should be ashamed and embarrassed for struggling with my mental health.

Myth #7: I am the only one struggling with mental health issues.

Myth #8: If I ignore these mental health struggles, they will go away.

Myth #9: If I was a better person, I wouldn’t have these mental health struggles. Mental health issues do not reflect your value or performance.

Myth #10: I should have all the tools to overcome mental health on my own.

Mental health struggles do not discriminate and affect people from all walks of life. Being accomplished, performing well in school, having a good family, and having lots of friends do not exclude you from having personal psychological struggles at some point in your life. There is nothing wrong with you. Often, there is resilience and resourcefulness in those who seek out mental health services. There is no shame or personal failure in seeking care for your psychological health.

We often lack the tools to help ourselves psychologically until we are taught them. These lessons are not often taught in school, and where else would you find them? Psychotherapy can be more than talking about your problems, and can be a place of psychological education. The good thing is that once you gain these psychological tools, you can’t unlearn them. You will be able to use them in the future whenever you need them, too!

You may be asking, could I benefit from speaking to a psychotherapist? I would say almost everyone could benefit from seeking psychotherapy, as the goal of therapy is to increase well-being! You may ask what would I discuss with my therapist? If you are Asian Canadian, here are some common issues that may have affected you growing up. You may want to discuss these experiences with a trained professional. These questions may uncover difficult thoughts and emotions for you, so please only read this next part if you are ready to explore uncomfortable issues.

In North American society, have you ever thought about how you grew up without Asian heroes and protagonists in stories and movies? Why were Asians relegated to supporting characters or worse yet, a punchline? How did these messages affect your self-esteem? Have you felt scared for your safety due to your race, especially after Covid-19?

In your communities, was there an unwritten hierarchy subscribed to by the community? Were you at the bottom of the hierarchy due to age and gender? Were you exposed to racial slurs or microaggressions because of your ethnic background? How did you feel? Have you ever talked about these injustices to anyone?

In your family, did your parents criticize you if you did not get good enough grades or perform well? Were you given unrealistically high expectations? Were you negatively talked about by your own parents to their friends? How did you make sense of these hurtful experiences? Does it affect you, today? If you were to listen to your own thoughts, what would you hear? Would you hear self-criticism or encouragement? Would you hear praise or negative remarks? How does your self-talk affect you, your emotions, and your well-being?You are not alone.

At Fancy Therapy Services, I would be honoured to hear your lived experiences and walk alongside you in achieving better health. Our therapists offer a non-judgmental and supportive environment for you to discuss your goals, learn about psychological tools, and how to implement them in your life. The most important thing is that you do not suffer alone in silence. If you are struggling with stress, burdens, or burnout, please contact a therapist, today.

Chiu, M., Amartey, A., Wang, X., & Kurdyak, P. (2018). Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Status and Service Utilization: A Population-Based Study in Ontario, Canada. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 63(7), 481-491. doi:10.1177/0706743717741061

Hahm, H., Liu, C. H., Tompson, M. C. (2020). Cultural and developmental principles for Asian American women’s mental health: Lessons From AWARE on college campuses. Psychiatric Services, 71, 1199-1202. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900593Naeem

F., Latif, M., Mukhtar, F., Kim, Y., Li, W., Butt, M. G., Kumar, N., & Ng, R. (2021). Transcultural adaptation of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in Asia. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 13(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/appy.12442 https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/why-asian-americans-dont-seek-help-mental-illness

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