Mental health resources for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are essential today with the rise of hate and discrimination directed toward these communities. According to a report issued by Stop AAPI Hate, a group that works to track incidents of racially motivated harassment and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, anti-Asian hate crimes are on the rise.
Between March 19, 2020, and February 28, 2021, almost 3,800 anti-Asian hate incidents were reported. These incidents included slurs, shunning, and physical assaults. More than twice as many attacks were directed toward Asian American women than toward Asian American men.
Such numbers represent acts of discrimination that have been reported—the actual numbers are likely much higher. This uptick in harassment and violence is largely attributed to the coronavirus pandemic and racist political rhetoric directed toward Asian people.
This discrimination, harassment, and violence have a serious impact on the mental health and well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. For example, one study found that 42% of those who had experienced discrimination had anxiety symptoms, 30% had depression symptoms, and 39% had symptoms of traumatic stress. Therefore, it is critical that these communities have access to appropriate mental health resources.
Read more at VeryWellMind.com.
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