Fall 2023 Youth Ambassaadors

Youth Ambassadors Program Fall 2023 North Carolina Asian Americans Together

|

Exploring Mental Health within the Asian American Community WITH FALL 2023 YOUTH AMBASSADORS

2

Table of Contents TITLE

PAGE

“The Dangerous Stigma in the 6 Asian American Community”

by Alyssa Y. “Dear Reader” by Anna Z.

8

“Asian Wellness Meals” by Anvita A.

10

“A Film on Self-Care” by Grishma S.

13

“Doodle” and “Nature” by Liana T.

16

3

North Carolina Asian Americans Together ABOUT US North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to supporting equity and justice for all by fostering community among Asian Americans and allies in North Carolina through civic engagement, leadership development, grassroots mobilization and political participation.

OUR VISION Our vision is for a more inclusive democracy built by drawing on the strength of diverse traditions, common values and community togetherness. We envision a socially conscious and informed society that integrates greater participation and representation by Asian Americans. We believe that for such a society to exist we must work within a cross-racial, crossethnic framework focused on grassroots power and solidarity.

4

NCAAT Youth Ambassadors (YAMs) Program ABOUT THE PROGRAM The NCAAT Youth Ambassadors (YAMs) Program this past fall included a cohort Asian American youth ages 16-22 in NC who wanted to advance the mission and work of NCAAT by developing skills in community and civic engagement, learning about issues of Asian American advocacy, and connecting with other youth throughout NC.

ABOUT THE ZINE The Fall 2023 cohort’s final project was to create a "zine" or self-published booklet about the topic of mental health and self-care in the Asian American community. Mental health is often a stigmatized topic, especially within the Asian American community. According to UCLA Health, Asian Americans are 50% less likely to seek mental health services than any other racial group. This stigma can be attributed to systemic issues such as language/cultural barriers, lack of Asian American mental healthcare providers, lack of health insurance, and harmful biases. Stereotypes, such as the perpetual foreigner stereotype, often lead to lower feelings of belonging, and the model minority myth further discourages Asian Americans from seeking professional help due to the implied belief that they are “successful” and have no issues. Such biases minimize the psychological difficulties and diversity existing within the community. The “Asian American experience” is a complex one that cannot be reduced.

Different intersecting identities, such as one’s gender/sexual identity, socioeconomic status, generational status, English-language proficiency levels, etc., can impact one’s mental health and lived experiences uniquely from others. Our YAMs hope this zine can help destigmatize mental health within the Asian American community and help empower each other to take care of one another and ourselves.

Please enjoy the zine!

5

MENTAL HEALTH

THE DANGEROUS STIGMA IN THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY By: Alyssa Y

Mental health is just as important as physical health. It affects how we think, feel, and act. Taking care of our mental health is essential for overall well-being.

Despite its importance, it is often stigmatized in our asian american community.

Asian Americans are...

60%

30%

3X

LESS LIKELY TO HAVE RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT COMPARED TO NONHISPANIC WHITES

MORE LIKELY TO CONSIDER COMMITTING SUICIDE IN GRADES 9-12 COMPARED TO NON-HISPANIC WHITE STUDENTS

LESS LIKELY TO SEEK MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAN WHITES

Common sources of stress include...

Parental pressure to succeed in academics Pressure to live up to the “model minority” stereotype Discrimination based on racial or cultural background Difficulty in balancing two different cultures and developing a bicultural sense of self 6

Did you know...

Discussing mental health concerns is considered taboo in many Asian cultures and as a result Asian Americans tend to dismiss, deny, or neglect their symptoms

Facing the stigma

Dr. Geoffrey Liu, shares “For some Asian Americans, there’s a real sense that your value as a person depends on your ability to take care of your family and community. This way of thinking originated, for East Asians, from an ancient philosophical tradition called Confucianism. Mental illness is seen—and I should emphasize, incorrectly—as taking away a person’s ability to care for others. For that reason, it’s seen as taking away someone’s identity or purpose. It’s the ultimate form of shame.”

Sources: https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/why-asian-americans-dont-seek-help-mental-illness

Connect with others. Having a support system is crucial for good mental health.

Reach out to friends, family, or members of your church for support.

Seek medical help from a professional. Shame and embarrassment force many to struggle in silence and never seek help. Treat mental illnesses like you would any physical illness.

Your mental wellbeing affects your physical wellbeing so don’t be afraid to seek out help.

What can you do to take action and end the stigma against mental health?

How can you destress today to improve your mental wellbeing?

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Thank you to all of our Fall 2023 Youth Ambassadors for their leadership and hard work.

We appreciate you!

Zine design and compilation

by Jennifer Yu, Youth Engagement Coordinator