Mental Health Matters: Mental Health Awareness Amongst AAPIs
Written by Winnie Xiao
Did you know that AAPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month both fall in May? In anticipation of this time of celebrating AAPI contributions and recognizing the importance of mental health, LACAAEA is actively working with the LA County Department of Mental Health and other community leaders to provide panels and workshops for the AAPI communities starting in May.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, suicide is the leading cause of death for young Asian Americans from ages 15 to 24. We are also the least likely of all racial groups in the nation to seek out mental health services due to various cultural factors. Mental illness is viewed as a weakness and as reflecting negatively on the entire household.
Many believe that it’s due to problematic upbringing, which puts the parents’ reputation at stake. The model minority image also adds overwhelming pressure on many AAPIs as they strive to uphold this image or risk being looked down on. Language is another obstacle to receiving help as 32.6% of AAPIs are not fluent in English. There is a lack of translated material and outreach efforts to spread awareness to AAPIs even though our communities desperately need all the help we can get.
LACAAEA will be kicking of virtual mental health workshops with a panel of guest speakers in May. Please be on the look out for an email notification from us for a date and time. We welcome you to spread the word to your family and friends and participate in this conversation with us to help improve the lives of our AAPI communities
Winnie received her bachelor's degree from USC Marshall School of Business. She currently works as an appraiser at the Assessor’s Office handling business property valuation. She enjoys working closely with the public and helping people navigate through the complex system of property assessments.
Winnie’s favorite pastime is sitting down with a coffee and reading a good book. She also enjoys traveling, drawing, singing, and playing the piano.
