Sakya Jayaweera
“I don’t think I can do this after today. My mom told me she will disown me if I continue therapy.” Neha, a 20-year-old South Asian female, discusses living in a South Asian household while dealing with her mental health. She described herself as ‘weak’ and felt as if she were neglecting her mother’s advice ‘to stop being negative’ and ‘pray more.’ Many South Asians suffer from mental illness worldwide, but are not given the support they need.
Mental health activist, Shreya Patel, spoke out about her struggles with mental health while being part of the South Asian community. “I didn’t even think about it. I felt like a fish out of water; I didn’t realize what was going on.” Elders in the community described mental health issues as something that is “all in your head,” which gave the impression that “positive thinking” and “determination” should be enough to move past the struggles. There is an overall lack of understanding about these issues, and tend to go unspoken in South Asian households. Patel specifically emphasized the statement of needing better education within families so they can identify the signs and symptoms of poor mental health at a younger age. In addition to the lack of understanding, there is the issue of failing to provide necessary support, such as refusing to partake in family counseling or other measures that could vastly improve overall mental health.
This leads to an individual’s reluctance to seek care for themselves due to the stigma attached to mental health care. Generally, members of the older generation encourage pushing past mental health challenges. As a result, struggling individuals become reluctant to seek treatment and share their issues with parents or other family members. Due to this fear of getting treatment resulting from the stigma, people start to close off from their loved ones and bottle up their emotions.
Children of South Asian immigrant families often face challenges associated with the pressure of living in two culturally different worlds. While trying to fit into a Western society that is mainly based on individual expression, they are also trying to navigate the culture at home where self-identity is determined by the validation of their family and community. One key reason for the poor mental health in South Asian individuals is due to the pressure of sacrificing their own personal wants for the expectations of their family which increases the levels of psychological stress. Research shows that pursuing a fulfilling career leads to better life satisfaction, which means there would be fewer psychological problems. This is not a choice given to most South Asian children, and they are forced to pursue a career that they do not enjoy or find meaningful. This results in a negative impact on their overall mental wellness.
As South Asians grasp more “Western views”, psychotherapy becomes more acceptable. Many South Asians are closed off emotionally and do not convey their feelings with the people closest to them. Those South Asians struggling through the assimilation process, and trying to find their place in American society without giving up their own cultural roots, may see therapy as being “too American.” This also causes many South Asians to avoid therapy for recovery.
Mental health struggles are common among children of South Asian immigrants, but they are not receiving the support they need. It has taken a while for people to open up about the issue and break the stigma surrounding it, but there is still much work to be done. Having the support of your loved ones is a crucial part of recovery in mental health. By educating communities and breaking the stigma around mental health, people are able to get the recovery they need.
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Sakya Jayaweera is a rising junior from Portland, Oregon. In her free time, she enjoys writing, playing the piano and violin, and spending time with friends. She is passionate about mental illnesses and their effects on South Asian youth in particular.
Diamond Gazette 