Improving AAPI Adolescents’ Mental Health

Caitlin Ciannella — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:57:56 +0000

Asian American and Pacific Islander teens are often overlooked by mental health services due to the model minority myth. Even when AAPI students may look like they are “doing well”, they can mask underlying issues of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. In fact, we know that there has been a recent increase in mental health needs in this population due to factors like the isolation caused by the Covid-19, rise in AAPI discrimination and hate and the continued lack of access to mental health services. Special focus needs to be given to AAPI and AAPI LGBTQ youth’s mental health outcomes and suicide risk. Secondary schools, CBOs, and colleges need to look at the compelling data then create and develop actionable plans to better support the mental health of AAPI students.

Resources to support AAPI Students

AAPI Not a Monolith (“Model Minority Myth”)

NPR 2021: 6 Charts That Dismantle The Trope Of Asian Americans As A Model Minority
Obama National Archive: Critical Issues Facing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
USC Student Voice: Debunking the Model Minority Myth
Video: Breaking Down the Model Minority Myth

AAPI Adolescent Mental Health Stats (pre-Covid)

AAPI Adolescent Mental Health Stats (during and after Covid)

AAPI Adolescent Stressors: Mental Health stigma, Less likely to be referred and get help, cultural barriers, relentless striving

AAPI Adolescent Stressors: Discrimination, Increase in Asian hate

Contact Information

Li Hsiang (Lisa) Chung, M.A. Ed

College & Career Specialist/Counselor, La Canada High School, l.chung@lcusd.net

Christine Loo, M.S.W

Co-Director of College Counseling, The Stony Brook School, NACAC Board of Directors, christine.loo@sbs.org

Kimberly Tsai Cawkwell, M.Ed

Director of Programs, Challenge Success, kcawkwell@challengesuccess.org

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We Support AAPI Communities

Kristen Edge — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 00:18:31 +0000

Our hearts are heavy as we stand in solidarity with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. The violent attacks that occurred in Atlanta as well as the nearly 3,800 reported hate incidents targeting AAPI communities across the county since last March are appalling.

As a school-facing nonprofit organization, we continue to hold space for and listen to the AAPI voices – and all voices – in the school communities in which we serve. It is our goal to ensure that all community members feel safe, valued, and heard, and we continuously examine and revise our practices to promote engagement and well-being for all students, educators, and families, including those for whom identity, culture, and socioeconomic status have resulted in exclusion. Hate and racism have no place in education or in any other part of our society.

Below is a non-exhaustive collection of resources that we encourage you to explore. Please share additional resources that you find helpful with us.

Resources to Support AAPI Communities*

StopAAPIHate.org (Asian Pacific Planning & Policy Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and the SFSU Asian American Studies Department)
Anti-Asian Violence Resources (Crowdsourced)
Asian Diaspora Mental Health Social Justice (@AsiansforMentalHealth Instagram)
How to support Asian American colleagues amid the recent wave of anti-Asian violence (CNBC)
61 Ways to Donate in Support of Asian Communities (New York Magazine)

*Resources compiled by Challenge Success Advisory Council member Rachel Skiffer.

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