CAMHOP, an initiative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which addresses mental health issues in New Jersey’s Chinese community, is one of the groups that seeks to alleviate mental health in the Asian American community. According to data from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 14.4% of Asian Americans reported having mental illness in 2019. Last year, that figure jumped to 18.1%, though according to experts, the statistics are likely undercounted. Experts say Asian Americans in New Jersey don’t have enough resources available to them, which is where Mai and her team come in, offering group support and game nights as alternatives to traditional therapy – supports that may be more culturally compatible with some Asian communities.
Teresa Hsu, a psychologist and founder of a New York-based nonprofit that promotes mental health education in Asian communities, says part of the problem is there aren’t enough culturally tailored therapies. According to recent data from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 13.5% of Asian American adults sought mental health treatment, compared to 27% of their white counterparts. Researchers found that current therapeutic practices have mostly been tested on white populations, and not enough researchers study the effectiveness of these therapies on other cultures. These therapies might work for some members of the Asian community depending on their age, immigration history, or if they’re more assimilated, Hsu said.
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