AAPI Discrimination and Mental Health

One year of silence as people live in fear. For those that cried out and spoke about the violence, it was largely ignored. Hopelessness, fear and vigilance takes over the daily routine.

Since the pandemic began, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have been confronted with increased violence such as setting an elderly woman on fire to severe beatings that has landed many in the hospital and currently one death to spreading propaganda such as plastering Bay Ridge, New York, blaming the Chinese for the economic downturn and coronavirus. A website, https://stopaapihate.org/, was set up in the beginning of the pandemic as a resource for people to report the various hate crimes and the numbers are increasing daily. Harassments are not only occurring in the public but also in workplaces.

Why the silence? Stigma on accessing mental health or other forms of support in the AAPI community is significant. Like many other communities of color, there is a belief that as long as you work hard, you will have a good life. Seeking help is seen as a sign of weakness and for some dangerous. Many AAPIs native countries have a long history of government oppression that creates a culture of silence - Do not speak up as it can invite risk to yourself, and even worse, your family. Naturally, generations of AAPIs have learned to cope in silence, suppress our emotions and move past the event as quickly as possible. But the ramifications on our mental health are severe. Prolonged stress from racial trauma can cause depression, anxiety, anger, numbness, physical symptoms, insomnia and low self-esteem. I, myself, have felt silenced and invisible due to being Asian American. I feel the pain with you.

#StopAsianHate marks March 26th as a Day of Action. I invite you to take action on your mental health today and everyday afterward. If you know somebody who may be experiencing discrimination, offer your support and invite them into a conversation. If you are reading this and this resonates with you, speak to your inner circle of trust, a therapist and/or somebody from your community. It can be empowering to witness other stories and free you to share yours.