Why is Asian mental health important?

Asians are less likely to access mental health services compared to other ethnic groups, partially due to cultural stigma and lack of culturally competent care.

According to the Asian Journal of Social Psychology, only about a quarter of Asian Americans who have been diagnosed with psychological problems seek treatment, compared more than half of the general population. Last year, another study found only 2.2% of first-generation Asian Americans, 3.5% of second-generation Asian Americans, and 10.1% of third-generation or later Asian Americans sought out specialty mental health services. 

Though there is not much research on mental health for Asian Canadians, it has been found that Asian Canadians—particularly immigrants—consistently underutilize mainstream mental health services.

There are unique stressors and barriers in Asian culture that discourage Asians from seeking mental health care:

In 19 focus groups among 174 Asian Americans aged 18-30, there were several sources of stress identified that affected Asian mental health:

  • Discussing mental health is taboo in Asian cultures and dismissed, denied, or neglected symptoms

  • Pressure to live up to the "model minority" stereotype

  • Discrimination due to race or cultural background

  • Parental pressure to succeed in academics

  • Difficulty balancing two different culture and developing a bicultural sense of self

The mental health impact of anti-Asian racism

Early research has linked the uptick in anti-Asian discrimination to increases in anxiety, depressive symptoms and sleep problems among those who are targeted.

In 2021, there was a 47% increase in self-reported and witness-reported incidents of anti-Asian racism and xenophobia in Canada. Though East Asian people continue to report the highest proportion of incidents (51%), reports by South Asian and Southeast Asian people increased dramatically, by 318% and 121%, respectively.

Canada, in fact, has more incidents of anti-Asian racism per capita than the United States — more than double the number of those reported in the U.S.

Vancouver has the greatest number of anti-Asian attacks in North America. And according to the World Health Organization, Canadian women of East Asian descent were responsible for 72% of filed reports.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic saw a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, anti-Asian racism isn’t something new.

Exclusion, discrimination and racism have been happening for more than 100 years in Canada. People of Asian descent are subjected to specific overt and subtle racist tropes and stereotypes at individual and systemic levels, which lead to their ongoing social, economic, political and cultural marginalization, disadvantage and unequal treatment. This includes perceptions of being a “Yellow Peril,” a “Perpetual Foreigner,” a “Model Minority,” “exotic,” or “mystic.” These stereotypes are rooted in Canada’s long history of racist and exclusionary laws, and often mask racism faced by peoples of Asian origin, while erasing their historical contributions to building Canada.

Mental health is a particular area of concern for South Asians in Canada

South Asians reported lower levels of mental health than other visible minorities during the pandemic.

South Asians are Canada’s largest racialized group. This population has a higher rate of anxiety and mood disorders, but is also 85% less likely to seek treatment due to many factors, including socioeconomic disparities, cultural differences and stigma.

A 2014 study found that South Asian individuals with major depressive episode reported the highest proportion of unmet mental healthcare need (48%) and highest proportion of perception of barriers to the availability of mental healthcare compared to eight other ethnic groupings (33%).