Breaking the Silence: Congressional Reps want May 10 declared as AANHPI Mental Health Day

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Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have traditionally  been reluctant to seek mental health assistance. In an attempt to bring attention to this silent statistic, the first Congressional resolution was introduced to recognize May 10 as AANHPI Mental Health Day.

“Our mental health is impacted by all aspects of our lives, yet it is a topic that AANHPIs seldom talk about," read a statement from the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA). "This resolution can play a critical role in raising awareness around the importance of having difficult conversations while also recognizing that mental health is also about celebrating who we are as we embrace our cultural heritage.”

May 10 has been recognized as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Mental Health Day in the State of California since 2010, but is not a federally recognized day yet. 

This federal resolution calls upon members of Congress to promote national awareness of mental health issues unique to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and urges State and local health agencies across the nation to improve the quality and availability of mental health services for this population. 

According to data collected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), AANHPIs have the lowest help-seeking rate of any racial/ethnic group, with only 23.3% of AANHPI adults with a mental illness receiving treatment in 2019. 

RELATED: How the mental health system fails AANHPI communities

Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, but it is the leading cause of death for Asian or Pacific Islander youth ages 15-24. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these problems as increased racial violence and discrimination against the Asian American community has increased the need for mental health services. 

“This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, more Americans than ever are rallying around our community to help stop anti-Asian hate. But there is another long-term threat to the wellbeing of our communities, and that is the lack of mental healthcare that meets the needs of the AANHPI community,” said Rep. Judy Chu, D-CA, who sponsored the resolution and who is chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

“Either because of stigma or the lack of linguistically and culturally appropriate care, many AANHPIs neglect their mental health, and it has resulted in disproportionate rates of problems like suicide and depression," said Chu. "That is why, today and for the rest of Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s essential that we urge all AANHPIs to take care of their mental health just as they would their physical health."

Chu was joined by U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui D0CA, Kai Kahele (HI-02), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) in introducing this resolution.

“Nearly all of us have a friend, family member, or loved one who lives with a mental illness. That is why it is critical that we continue to break down barriers to care and work to end the stigma in our communities,” said Matsui. 

“Especially over the past year, members of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities have been challenged by both the pandemic and the rise in anti-AAPI racism. Now, more than ever, we must meet this moment with a comprehensive health care strategy that prioritizes our mental health and well-being," said Matsui.

“AANHPI communities have some of the greatest mental health needs, but access to culturally competent and in-language services remain a barrier that has only been exasperated by the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and the surge in hate incidents,” said Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. 

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