Asian American Students

Asian Americans represent a large and diverse group with various cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds. The Asian American population represent over 30 countries and ethnic groups that speak 100 different languages, adding to cultural richness and diversity of the United States. The mental health of Asian Americans has historically been overlooked due to a variety of factors, such as lower utilization of mental health services by Asian Americans and stereotypes of the model minority myth. However, suicide rates have increased amongst the Asian American population, particularly amongst Asian girls and young women between 2010-2020. Studies have shown that Asian Americans have the lowest utilization rate of mental health services compared to other racial groups in the US.

According to a 2018 study, Asian American students were shown to have the lowest prevalence of treatment for mental health conditions (Lipson et al., 2018). While suicide is a complex issue, there are certain factors that may increase one’s risk for suicide. Factors that may be particularly relevant for Asian American studies can include (but are not limited to):

• Prejudice, intercultural conflict, or discrimination
• Conflicts with parents or feeling rejected by them
• Financial concerns
• Traumas, such as those often reported by refugees
• Perfectionism in education and academic stress

Barriers to seeking help may include:

• Mental health stigma and shame
• Mismatch between cultural needs and culturally appropriate mental health services
• Affordability concerns

Protective factors that can decrease risk:

• Strong cultural and ethnic identity
• Family ties
• Religion & spirituality when it enhances sense of belonging and promotes help-seeking
• Mental health initiatives within academic settings

Suicide prevention within Asian American student communities may include:

• Raising mental health awareness within Asian American communities to reduce stigma
• Stress-management and problem-solving skill trainings and workshops
• Advocating for more culturally sensitive and multilingual mental health services