In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, international wars and rising prices, it’s no wonder one-third of adults describe their mental health as “only fair” or “poor,” according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Approximately 90% of adults believe there is a mental health crisis in the United States today. Minority communities especially face a greater stigma surrounding mental health because of its association with weakness, shame and isolation.
Open dialogue about mental health should be normalized within minority communities.
Marginalized communities, particularly within immigrant households, frequently view discussions of mental health as disgraceful. Immigrant parents tend to push a narrative in which their children’s problems are less important because of the sacrifices they made. To them, uprooting their lives and immigrating to a foreign country outweighs any mental health concerns. This cycle perpetuates a harmful ideology that disregards mental health entirely.
“(Mental health has) never been a conversation,” said Rhea Alexander, a biology and Plan II freshman. “It’s pretty much a Band-Aid solution to things. (Parents) know (what mental health is), (but) it’s not tangible.”
The cultural stigma surrounding mental health often restricts many students from pursuing professional help for fear of disappointing their family or upsetting the idealistic, immigrant fairytale.
“You have to save face in public,” government junior Amy Truong said. “Whatever happens at home is fine, but on the outside, you have to be perfect. I felt like by seeking help, I was not this perfect individual anymore.”
In addition to cultural stigma, minorities have greater difficulty accessing mental health care providers. According to a KFF study, Asian and Black adults are more likely to report difficulty finding a mental health provider that can understand their background in comparison to their white counterparts. Compared to white adults, Hispanic adults are less likely to receive mental health care because they don’t know how to seek a provider or are too afraid or embarrassed.
“More (minorities) need to be in (the mental health) field in order to have adequate resources,” Alexander said. “(White therapists) can sympathize, but there’s a difference between sympathizing and empathizing. There needs to be more diversity. In that way, there is more empathy.”
Although a person’s heritage can enforce damaging assumptions around mental health, culture doesn’t have to be a weakness. Cultural communities can instill values that provide structure and balance to help students navigate their surroundings. Truong, who is the program director for the AAPI mental health organization (un)Jaded, describes how her culture provides a community in which to confide.
“Our culture is beautiful,” Truong said. “We have that shared bond and sense of community. That’s part of the reason why I love (un)Jaded because you have people from Central Asia and South Asia, and you talk about the same things and understand.”
The solution to this growing issue is simpler than one might think: more discourse. No one should ever shy away from conversations surrounding mental health, regardless of cultural stigma. Something so undeniably human should never be shameful. With the stoic culture of minority communities, this comfort may not translate well, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from receiving the care they need. Speak to your family. Speak to your friends. Speak to someone you trust.
Minority communities need more representation in the mental health field, and students need to recognize just how important awareness can be. Our generation can be the ones to break the cycle.
If you or anyone you know is struggling, don’t be afraid to seek help.
Lam is a computer science freshman from Mansfield, Texas.
