Sunday Read: Being always on guard because of one's race can tax workers emotionally and mentally

Illustrative Photo by Sodanie Chea Via Flickr Creative Commons

By Louis Chan
ASAM NEWS

JACKIE YOUNG felt highly valued by her company when she was first hired for a sales position, but that quickly changed.

Jackie connected with people she knew to market a company event designed to increase the corporation’s exposure in the public eye and also to bring in new vendors.

“This event had a great turn out, but when my boss stood at the doorway looking in she turned to me and said, “Why are there so many Chinese?” recalled Young to AsAmNews. “I was quite offended as to why she would think this would appear to be an issue with her, and standing before her (me), a Chinese/American. Less than a third of the public in the room were Chinese, so there really weren’t that many.”

Young explained she had used her “personal connections” as she was taught in training and described one of her friends as a Pied Piper” who invited other friends, some who happen to be Asian and others who were not.

“After I explained this to my boss as she stood at the entrance, shook her head and said “'No, no,' and walked away. That was the first sign to me that she has subconscious bias or should I just say she’s racist?”

Young’s experience mirrors that of other people of color, according to a new report released by Catalyst, a nonprofit dedicated to building “workplaces that work for women.”

The report entitled Day-to-Day Experiences of Emotional Tax Among Women and Men of Color in The Workplace found that Asian, Black, Latinx, and multiracial professionals pay an emotional tax at work when they feel they must be on guard to protect against racial and gender bias.

“Emotional Tax is the day-to-day experience of having to be on guard for experiences of bias and the impact of that on the ability to thrive at work and in life,” said Jennifer Thorpe-Moscon of Catalyst to AsAmNews. “We define it as “the combination of feeling different from peers at work because of gender, race, and/or ethnicity and the associated effects on health, well-being, and ability to thrive at work.”’

Out of the 1569 professionals surveyed, 24 percent of the respondents were Asian with the average age of all respondents 35. Women made up 51 percent. 

One respondent identified as Ying, a 27-year old Asian business woman, was among those who took part.

“Once I was given a writing assignment about defensive driving techniques,” said Ying. “Although I liked the subject, I felt very on guard when it was read aloud to me, as well as everyone else in our meeting. I braced myself for the inevitable Asian/woman jokes. When they did come, I coped with it by smiling and shrugging it off so as not to cause tension.”

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In addition to examining women of color, the report's data reveal the Emotional Tax experiences of men of color in US workplaces: over one-quarter of Asian, Black, Latinx and multiracial men who are on guard anticipate bias because of their gender, and, in general, far more experience Emotional Tax. 

According to the Catalyst findings, Asian men experience a sort of double jeopardy. When they act more assertively— contradicting the meek and passive stereotype—they may be penalized in the workplace while white men are commended and promoted for exhibiting the same behavioral traits.

Among the other findings of the survey are:

• Asian, Black, Latinx, and multiracial professionals pay an Emotional Tax at work when they feel they must be on guard to protect against racial and gender bias. 
• This experience was shared by nearly 60% of the women and men of color we surveyed. 
• Employees who feel on guard are most likely to want to leave their employers and face challenges to their well-being. 
• A majority of those who are on guard have a strong drive to contribute and succeed—suggesting that the loss of their talent would be detrimental to the organization. 
• To retain these valuable employees and address potential reasons for being on guard, leaders must cultivate inclusive workplaces.

"Women of color continue to deal with some of the workplace's most entrenched hurdles, such as pay inequities and near invisibility in top leadership roles, as well as daunting roadblocks that stifle the meaningful dialogue that would help make real progress," says Dnika J. Travis, PhD, Catalyst Vice President for Research. 

"Over time, these daily battles take a heavy toll on women of color, creating a damaging link between their health and the workplace. And because of consequences associated with Emotional Tax, companies must begin to take intentional action to avoid possible harm to their businesses and employees' health and well-being."

(Views From the Edge contributed to this report,)

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HEALTH: Chrissy Teigen opens up about her postpartum blues

THERE'S A LOT of women who would love to exchange places with Chrissy Teigen. 

With handsome husband John Legend who earns a good living by writing and singing musical hits, photo assignments in some of the most beautiful locales around the world, wearing the designer clothes and blessed with the physical attributes of a swimsuit model, it would seem that she has everything a woman could want.

Teigen graces the cover of Marie Claire magazine's July edition. Normally, having an AAPI person on the cover of a major magazine, it would be an occasion to write about the progress we have made integrating into the U.S.

But in this case, Teigen is on the cover for another reason - a dark secret that she reveals in the article. Like many new mothers after giving birth, she suffers from postpartum anxiety and depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 11 to 20% of women who give birth each year have postpartum depression symptoms.

Teigen explains how the condition often makes her feel unsteady and worried.“Every step I take feels a little shaky,” she said. “It’s such a weird feeling that you wouldn’t know unless you have really bad anxiety ... You feel like everyone is looking at you.”

Also known as perinatal anxiety, PPA can cause sufferers to feel constantly anxious—to the point where it can interfere with their daily lives. Postpartum anxiety can go hand-in-hand with postpartum depression or it can be completely separate. say medical doctors. Doctors aren't totally sure what causes PPA, but suspect that the lack of sleep and fluctuating hormone levels that come with being a new mom may be at play, she says.

When Teigen was diagnosed with anxiety, she was also diagnosed with PPD, a mood disorder impacting one in every seven to nine mothers, although estimates vary, according to the American Psychological Association. 

PPD involves the onset of moderate to severe depressive symptoms—including insomnia, loss of appetite, increased irritability, and difficulty bonding with the baby—lasting more than two weeks. he model first revealed her illness in the March issue of Glamour magaizine.

Teigen now takes an antidepressant to treat her conditions. And though she's talked about still having "bad days" with her PPD, she's trying not to let the condition interfere with her desire to expand her family. "I loved being pregnant," she said. "Maybe I should be scared [of having PPD again], but I don't know. It couldn't be any worse than it was, could it?"

Teigen also discusses living with postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter Luna in April 2016. She said that she treats the mood disorders with medication.

Considering the reluctance among AAPI to discuss and treat mental illness because of the stigma associated with it. The articles about Teigen's condition puts a spotlight on the illness. She hopes that by going public about her condition, it will encourage other women to understand that their illness is not their fault and that it is treatable.

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Bill introduced to fight mental health woes of AAPI

MENTAL HEALTH is still a taboo subject in the Asian/American and Pacific Islander community.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., reintroduced legislation to curb mental health stigma in the AAPI community. 

The Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act, instructs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide outreach and education strategies for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community by partnering with local advocacy and behavioral health organizations that have an established record of serving AAPIs. 

"As a former clinical psychologist, I have seen firsthand how important mental health services can be," said Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. 

"Too many in the AAPI community in particular suffer in silence, afraid to talk about a problem they don’t understand. This is exacerbated by the pervasive myth that AAPIs are a ‘model minority’ that do not suffer from mental and behavioral disorders," said Chu. 

These strategies will increase awareness of symptoms of mental illness common among AAPI populations, provide linguistically and culturally appropriate interventions, and encourage individuals and communities to use a comprehensive, public health approach when addressing mental and behavioral health.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s National Healthcare Quality Report and the National Healthcare Disparities Report, AAPIs are the least likely to seek out mental health services, contributing to the stigma surrounding mental and behavioral health disorders in the AAPI community. 

RELATED: Asian Americans suffer in silence

 "Just like you wouldn’t be expected to ignore a physical ailment like cancer, nor should you ignore mental and emotional ones like depression," said Chu. "This has to start with addressing the lack of accurate information about mental health conditions, symptoms, treatments, and support in communities and making sure that individuals who need help are aware of the resources available. 

"This bill is a crucial step towards properly addressing this issue within our community and creating a dialogue about the importance of mental health."

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How a bout of depression helped Dwayne Johnson come to a defining moment

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

'RUNNING AMOK' is a common phrase you probably have heard. Did you know that the word "amok" is of Malaysian origin? "Amok" refers to a person, usually male, who goes on a rampage and starts killing everyone in sight and it usually ends with that person getting killed. It's a form of suicide, really, an individual who is mentally disturbed trying to go out in a rage, telling the world contradictory messages: that he can't take the world anymore and his existence matters.

I only mention this because mental health issues are topics Asian/Americans generally try to avoid, yet the manifestations that someone having difficulty coping is something everyone is familiar with; something that tends to be discussed behind closed doors. It  can manifest itself in extreme forms like running amok or more commonly, as in the case of movie star Dwayne Johnson, "in a bubble."

Asian/Americans and Pacific Islanders suffer from mental illness at the same rate as everyone else. Unfortunately, AAPI's are also the least likely to seek help. 

Recently, the television show Oprah's Master Class talked with Johnson, a Samoan/Canadian who made a name for himself as a professional wrestler after getting rejected as a football player. Eventually, he worked his way into acting where he is having a successful career playing big, strong macho guys. 

After playing football for four years at the University of Miami, Johnson was passed over by the NFL. While he played for the Canadian Football League for a short time, he was ultimately cut from his team, the Calgary Stampeders, and sent packing. At 23, Dwayne found himself living in his parents' small apartment, battling depression.

"I didn't want to do a thing," he recalls. "I didn't want to go anywhere. I was crying constantly. Eventually you reach a point where you are all cried out."

That wasn't the first time he felt lost, nor was it the last. Each time he had to remake himself, into a wrestler, into an actor, into a businessman, into a father.

Just the fact that they are people of color in a country that in every institution is white-centric puts a lot of stress on minorities; that they don't count, don't matter and are invisible to the rest of society.

Asian/Americans and Pacific Islanders come from 52 different countries and are the most diverse racial/ethnic group in terms of religious/spiritual affiliation, cultural background and traditions, and generational and immigration experiences.

Prevalence rates of mental illness among AAPI are believed to be no different from those of other Americans. However, the type of psychopathology, ethnicity and generational status, acculturation and cultural background all appear to influence the manifestation of psychological distress among AAPI, according to Gayle Y. Iwamasa of the Asian American Psychological Association.

A study conducted by The University of Maryland School of Public Health research team in 2007, which looked at needs of mental health for Asian-American young adults, showed that participants reported several common sources of stress that affected their overall mental health:

• Parental pressure to succeed in academics
• Discussing mental health concerns is considered taboo in many Asian cultures and as a result Asian Americans tend to dismiss, deny or neglect their symptoms
• Pressure to live up to the "model minority" stereotype (a view that inaccurately portrays Asian Americans as successfully integrating into mainstream culture and having overcome the challenges of racial bias)
• Family obligations based on strong traditional and cultural values
• Discrimination due to racial or cultural background 
• Difficulty in balancing two different cultures and developing a bicultural sense of self

A different study conducted by Iwamasa found Southeast Asian and other Asian-American/Pacific Islander immigrants who experienced violence, war, or economic oppression prior to their arrival in the United States appear susceptible to suffer psychological distress or post traumatic stress syndrome, something we usually associate with soldiers' disturbed by their combat experiences.

Living up to parental expectations can put a lot
of stress on children.

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"Understanding the mental health issues of Asian/Americans and Pacific Islanders is important," says Iwamasa," because of the vast heterogeneity of the group, the various Asian cultures' beliefs about mental health, and the emphasis on the connection between the mind and body." 

Among many Asian-Americans/Pacific Islanders, interpersonal harmony and the focus on family influence the experience, interpretation and expression of psychological distress. For example, in some Asian cultural groups, the experience of psychological distress is not only a reflection on the individual in distress, but also reflects on the entire family. Thus, shame, embarrassment and loss of face contribute to whether or not an individual will admit to experiencing psychological problems. 

These same cultural values are key reasons AAPI are less likely to seek help or treatment for their depression or other mental illness.

The acclaimed, Emmy-nominated series Oprah's Master Class tells the stories you've never heard from the people you thought you knew best. Hand-picked by Oprah Winfrey for their unique impact on the world, true modern masters from Academy Award-winning actors, to Grammy-winning musicians, to ground-breaking athletes, share the greatest lessons they've learned along the way. In an intimate setting, they share their successes, their failures, their triumphs, disappointments and heartbreaks.

The fact that a celebrity of Johnson's stature is willing to go public with his depression, even if may hurt his macho image, hopefully may help someone struggling with mental health - whether it be depression, PTSD, feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, sexual identity, or some other issue - to seek the help he, or she, needs. 

Johnson's confession shows that anyone can have bouts of despair. You can be a musical protege striving for perfection, a father trying to regain your position as family provider, a student trying to live up to expectations, a young person being bullied, parents who must depend on their child to understand a new culture, or an athlete who is just not quite good enough to go pro. The point is, if you know anyone suffering from this condition, let him or her know there is help and that there is no need to be alone. Ask "The Rock."

"I found that, with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you're not alone," said the movie action hero in the YouTube video posted by Winfrey's OWN channel. "You're not the first to go through it; you're not going to be the last to go through it. And oftentimes — it happens — you just feel like you're alone. You feel like it's only you. You're in your bubble. And I wish I had someone at that time who could just pull me aside and (say), 'Hey, it's gonna be OK. It'll be OK.' So, I wish I knew that."

For more news about Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, go to AsAm News.

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