Mental health affects everyone regardless of identity, yet identity can greatly influence one’s access to mental health care. When seeking support, many barriers can prevent access to appropriate care including, but not limited to:

• Language barriers
• Cost
• Structural barriers such as transportation
• Challenges with healthcare and/or lack of health coverage
• Cultural stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment

As an Asian-American whose life is intertwined with mental health both personally and professionally, I see the biggest barrier to accessing mental health treatment for the Asian community as the cultural stigma associated with the idea of needing mental health support. My own family members or friends of family have commented on their skepticism of my own journey into the field of mental health as they don’t quite understand the legitimacy of diseases that cannot be seen. The mentality seems to be “If it can’t be seen, then it doesn’t need to be fixed and/or it is just a phase that one can get over in time.” The other barrier that goes hand-in-hand with this sentiment is the normalization of avoidance – if a family member does experience any form of mental health issue, then the first line of defense is to hide them away from public view and save face by denying acknowledgment. I have and continue to work through the cultural conflict of silence versus voice. Growing up, feelings weren’t readily acknowledged and I witnessed the avoidance of recognition for those within our family who suffered in silence. By simply being in the field of therapy, I challenged the norm of my family’s culture and shed light onto areas that had been hidden in the dark for as long as I could remember.

There is a strong need within the Asian community to fight the stigma and normalize the fact that mental health is an essential piece of overall well-being along with sleep, diet and exercise. I, within my own family and community, continue to learn how to be engaged in the conversation with family about how to acknowledge and discuss mental health issues that affect us all in order to lift the shroud of shame associated with seeking support.

This all comes from my personal perspective and experience of how I have seen culture shape the experience of mental health and wellbeing within the cultural dynamic of my family. In the Bay Area, we live in a place known for its rich cultural diversity. Meeting the unique needs of each community requires culturally responsive solutions to adequately and appropriately address the nuances that may not be outwardly known. We can always participate in the ongoing effort to develop awareness through education and knowledge of what resources are available to help reduce the gap between need and access. I am including a short list of local resources for our diverse community which you can look through for yourself and share with friends and/or family.

At Therapy2Thrive, we recognize the importance and value that culture plays in our lives and understand how it shapes our daily experiences. If you would like to speak to any of our clinicians regarding your own support or support for a family or friend, please don’t hesitate to reach out and start a conversation with us.

Asian Access Mental Health Services
310 8th Street, Suite 201
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 869-7200
https://asianhealthservices.org/

Asian Pacific Psychological Services
431 30th St. Suite A, Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 835-2777

Bay Area Muslim Therapists
Bayareamuslimtherapists.org

Christian Counseling Center
111 Deerwood Rd. Suite 360, San Ramon, CA 94538
(925) 621-0719
http://www.christiancounselingcenters.org/ 

Community Health for Asian Americans (CHAA)
1141 Harbor Bay Parkway
Alameda, CA 94502
(510) 835-2777
https://chaaweb.org/