Mental Health and Wellness in the Asian American/Pacific Islander Community
Rates of hate incidents against the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) community have tripled (https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.708426) since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and it’s taking a toll on the population’s mental well-being. Researchers have linked pandemic-related discrimination (https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.708426) to increased anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances among members of the AAPI community, yet they are much less likely to seek or accept mental health services (https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.708426) than any other racial group.
What Can You Do?
In some Asian cultural groups, psychological distress is not only a reflection on the individual (https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.708426) but the entire family as well. Thus, shame and embarrassment may contribute (https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/asian-american/psychological-treatment) to whether an individual will admit to experiencing psychological problems or seek care for them.
- Patients may be more likely to answer mental health questions honestly if you bring them up when their family members are not in the room.
- AAPI individuals may report physical manifestations of stress (https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Asian-American-and-Pacific-Islander) because their culture views them as more acceptable than psychological symptoms. When performing assessments, consider an emotional etiology as part of the differential diagnosis.
- Patients may be more likely to accept care (https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/asian-american/psychological-treatment) from someone of a similar background. Refer to a psychiatry or psychology provider of AAPI descent whenever possible.
- If individuals are hesitant to speak with a mental health provider, suggest integrative services (https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/asian-american/psychological-treatment) such as mind-body interventions, acupuncture, or meditation.
- Don’t give up. Even if a patient initially declines a consult for mental health services, check with them regularly about their coping techniques and intermittently revisit the option of a referral.
Learn more about how to provide culturally competent care for the AAPI community (https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/asian-american/psychological-treatment) to support their mental health and wellness.
Acknowledgement: We thank clinical psychologist, Christian Nelson, PhD, for contributing to the development of this article.
Have you experienced a cultural clinical practice encounter or situation that would be helpful for other oncology nurses to understand? Email us about it at pubONSVoice@ons.org (mailto:pubONSVoice@ons.org) for consideration for a future article.