Voices from the Margins: An exploration of Asian American mental health experiences

In the last 5 to 10 years, there has been a greater willingness to talk openly about mental health. This conversational shift has helped to reduce the stigma that has been historically associated with mental illness. People are now more likely than ever to seek help for mental health issues and speak openly about their experiences with mental illness, resulting in increased awareness and understanding of mental health.

But for the Asian American community, mental health is not being embraced with open arms compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Michael Huynh, MPH, a doctoral student at UCI Public Health, is dedicating his research to unmasking hidden issues around mental health among Asian American subgroups. 

In his recent co-authored study published in the Public Health Reports, Huynh analyzed the prevalence of psychological distress and unmet mental health needs among Asian/Asian American adults during the COVID-19 pandemic across various sociodemographic subgroups. 

“Asian Americans may be experiencing mental health challenges for a variety of reasons, including family obligations, economic hardships, and racial discrimination,” said Huynh. “The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to anti-Asian hate crimes, which contributed to even greater stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges within the community.”

The researchers’ findings showed that the odds of psychological distress were increased among adults who were female, trans, non-binary, aged 18-44 years, US-born, Cambodian, multiracial, and low income. Of those reporting psychological distress and unmet mental health needs, Korean, Japanese, and Cambodian were the highest. These differences among subgroups exemplify the various factors, such as diverse experiences and cultural backgrounds, that may be impacting mental health. 

Over the years, the support I received from faculty, family, and friends is what motivated me to even want to pursue a doctoral degree and become a mental health researcher.”

– Michael Huynh, MPH

“One potential explanation that could be contributing to unmet mental health care is that services like therapy and support groups are either too costly to afford, too inaccessible for scheduling, or too daunting to search for those that can provide comfortable discussions on shared Asian American identity,” added Huynh, who is concentrating his degree on disease prevention. “This can exacerbate mental health problems and lead to a sense of isolation, disconnection, and hopelessness.”

Another factor is the concept of the “model minority stereotype,” which portrays Asian Americans as successful, hardworking, and high-achieving individuals. While this stereotype can be positive in some ways, it can also create pressure for Asian Americans to excel academically and professionally, leading to stress, anxiety, and burnout. It also masks unique challenges that subgroups within the Asian American monolith face. For example, some Southeast Asian American communities may experience higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the legacy of war and violence in their home countries, as well as resettlement challenges in the United States.

As a Vietnamese American who grew up in Little Saigon, Orange County, Michael learned how factors like refugee history, pressures to attain financial stability, and limited knowledge of mental health services affected his community. Michael is bringing those lived experiences to his research to address these factors and ultimately promote mental wellness within the Asian American community. 

“Over the years, the support I received from faculty, family, and friends is what motivated me to even want to pursue a doctoral degree and become a mental health researcher,” says Michael. “My current dissertation proposal is titled ‘Friend Support and Its Implications on the Mental Health of Asian American Adolescents’ with the hopes of informing directions for the future development of interventions for Asian American populations.”