navigating mental health in the AANHPI community

Hello there —

Suhana here with a little reminder to check in on your mental health this month :)

In the United States, the month of May is both AANHPI Heritage Month (Asian-American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander) and Mental Health Awareness Month. Even as we grow to understand the importance of caring for it, Asian-Americans are historically known for neglecting their mental health. According to the American Psychological Association, Asian Americans have a 17.3% overall rate of developing a psychiatric disorder in their lifetime, yet Asian Americans are 3x less likely to seek mental health services than Whites. The academic pressure, patriarchal history, disassociation from heritage, and desire to assimilate are just a few of the balls we juggle. In case you haven’t heard this recently, we don’t have to navigate this space alone :)

Here are a few resources to help you take a step toward prioritizing your mental health.

Disclaimer: this article includes my editorial thoughts, as well as some data I've gathered throughout my research. All of my sources are linked throughout this page. Moreover, nothing in this article is or should be construed as medical advice. If you or a loved one are suffering from mental health complications, please seek help from a medical professional.

Cardamom Counseling

A South-Asian founded therapy resource, Cardamom Counseling prides themselves on creating accessible, quality counseling for adults of all backgrounds. If you are a part of the vast South-Asian diaspora or of South-Asian descent, it’s important to take into account your background and cultural upbringing as it relates to your mental health. As a someone defined by this intersection myself, my cultural identity definitely comes into play when having these conversations. Cardamom Counseling is female-founded and takes the time to really delve into and be respectful of the cultural background of their clientele.

APISAA Therapist Directory

This directory provides a comprehensive list of therapists in most states and Washington, DC who specifically have expertise in counseling and therapy services for Asian American, South Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities. The site also houses a tab specifically communities and events that are facilitated by counselors for group conversations. If you’re still hesitant to dive right in, I’ve found that the stories section of the site contains a really fantastic community blog and podcasts to read/listen to at your convenience.

South Asian Mental Health Initiative & Network

An expansive list of mental health providers, The South Asian Mental Health Initiative & Network (SAMHIN) works to address the mental health of South-Asian Americans by allowing users to navigate the site by languages, location, and service type. I’ve personally found that mental health is quite the taboo topic in the Asian American community and even less of a priority for family whose second language is English. Therapists within these directories specifically come from and speak other languages, allowing sessions to be conducted in the language of the patient’s choice. I’ve also personally attended Zoom events and found them to be super helpful in making small changes/navigating my mental well-being as a South Asian American.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a dedicated section of its site allocated toward the needs of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. NAMI addresses the stigma of mental health in these communities and has seminars available in various languages. Second generation AAPI can face a basket of nuanced problems including heritage, the need to assimilate, and feelings of shame/pride being tied to unhealthy triggers. NAMI’s section specifically dedicated to the AAPI community understands this, and their list of mental health professionals bring this understanding to their sessions/meetings.

If you’re still unsure where to begin or just want to learn more, here are some Instagram communities dedicated to AAPI mental health awareness:
@browngirltherapy
@mannmukti
@well.guide

As May comes to a close, it’s important to remember, mental health is health. Therapy and counseling may or may not lead you to your “aha moment”, but it can help you rebalance and reprioritize. Be kind to yourself - we are all a work in progress :)

Until next time,
Suhana