Overview:
This past year, many Asian students have been struggling with their mental health and wellbeing. The Covid-19 pandemic and anti-Asian hate have worsened experiences with racism, xenophobia, and inequity. Within the US, there has been a surge of attacks within the AAPI community, ranging from elders to children. Experiencing such attacks, seeing close ones go through them, or hearing about them can all contribute to worsening mental health.
In addition, many schools have overlooked this problem by failing to address the anti-Asian hate rhetoric and AAPI experiences. They often do not implement Asian history in curriculums, nor do they engage in effective conversations surrounding the continuously rising. With the hate crimes and lack of support in schools, it’s become detrimental to the mental health of many Asian students because many fear what will happen next.
Protecting Your Mental Health:
It is important for Asian students to protect their mental health. Many of us are facing challenges and feelings of stress, confusion, and anger. It can be overwhelming and lead to increases in anxiety and other mental health issues, which is why we need to take care of ourselves. If you or a friend is struggling, please reach out to them.
Listed below are methods to help protect your mental health.
- Know that your experiences, thoughts, and struggles are valid
- Always take a break
- Reach out to friends and family
- Share feelings with trusted friends/adults
- Exercise, meditate, and practice mindfulness
- Seek help from counselors or therapists if needed
Organizations that Provide Information & Services Concerning Mental Health:
An important way to protect your mental health is talking to someone about your wellbeing and emotions. It can help you sort out your feelings and thoughts, making you more aware of those emotions. Sometimes, talking to a loved one or professional will provide different perspectives on situations. However, if it is difficult to talk to a loved one about your emotions because of how heavily stigmatized mental health is, there are a plethora of organizations that provide services to help with mental health: therapy, counseling, etc.
- Asian American Health Initiative
- Asian Do Therapy Podcast
- Asian Mental Health Collective
- National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
- Pacific Asian Counseling Services
- South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network
- South Asian Therapist Network
Sources:
- https://www.stuvoice.org/updates/stop-asian-hate
- https://onlinecounselingprograms.com/resources/racial-injustice-mental-health-resources/
- https://asianamericanstudies.cornell.edu/anti-racism-resources-aapi-community
- https://www.aaja.org/2021/02/25/mental-wellness-resources/
- https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org