How often do you talk about your feelings? If you’re part of the Asian American community, you might feel like you’re constantly keeping everything bottled up inside. You’re not alone.
Mental health stigma in Asian communities continues to be prevalent, but things are changing. For too long, mental health solutions have been seen through an exclusively Western lens that fails to account for cultural differences and family dynamics common among Asian Americans.
Well-being in these communities requires a more holistic solution, exploring the physical and psychosomatic symptoms they’re more likely to display. Culturally competent care is more crucial than ever, and this article explores how somatic therapy could be the answer.
Challenges Asian Americans Face in Mental Health
There’s a cultural imbalance in mental health care. While over 7% of Americans, roughly 22 million, identify as Asian Americans, they make up only 3% of the U.S. psychology industry. The Asian population in the U.S. has almost doubled in the last twenty years and is expected to reach over 46 million by 2060 – making now a vital time to address their mental health needs.
The community faces unique challenges, showcased stronger than ever in recent years. COVID-19 had a drastic impact on the mental health of Asian Americans, leading to a sharp increase in anxiety screenings, correlating with rising hate crimes.
While there’s a growing need for mental health support, the correct services are not readily available. A 2011 study found that after making first contact with a mental health professional, a third of them change their mind before starting therapy sessions.
Although second and third-generation Asian Americans are more likely to be open about their mental health, this demographic also struggles with so-called “thriver’s guilt”, one of the many reasons why they’re more likely to finish their treatment plans earlier.
Many Asian Americans who explore readily accessible therapy find themselves labeled as “difficult clients” or they face barriers due to access, such as language services and lack of education. It’s a harsh reality for a demographic that is 50% less likely to seek help from mental health services than other racial groups.
Asian Americans are more likely to drop out early, aren’t proportionally represented within the mental health field, and don’t have their cultural sensitives accounted for by mainstream healthcare providers.
The Importance of Culturally Competent Care
Culturally competent care – also known as culturally appropriate care – is treatment or support services that are sensitive and aware of the impact of an individual’s heritage and cultural identity.
Asian Americans have lower treatment utilization rates as there are no mental health treatments available for their cultural sensitivities, including access to services in their native languages.
Mental health concerns can manifest themselves in different ways, impacted on both a generational and cultural level. Issues like loss of face and interpersonal harmony are among the reasons why mental health problems often manifest themselves as physical pain. For Asian Americans, their more holistic approach to well-being means that the mind and body are seen as interconnected.
It’s a common misconception that mindfulness and acceptance-based psychotherapies are best suited for Asian Americans, however, these are usually presented through a Western lens. Instead, culturally competent care for Asian Americans is better delivered through somatic therapy.
However, it’s important to caveat culturally competent care by remembering that Asian Americans are not all the same. For example, Koreans have their own cultural sensitives and intergenerational trauma that is different from what other communities within the Asian American diaspora are experiencing.
Read more: Breaking Intergenerational Trauma in Southeast Asian American Communities
How to Communicate Pain Through Physical Symptoms
Trauma is often stored in your body – a concept that led to the creation of somatic therapy. Somatization suggests that there’s a physical response for every emotional experience. When you’re scared, you’re likely to shake. When you’re sad, you might cry or curl into yourself.
Research shows that Asian Americans are more likely to somatize negative experiences than Westerns, making physical symptoms the most effective way for them to explore – and recognize – their mental health challenges. If you’re experiencing symptoms like stomach problems, fatigue, or continuous headaches, it may be the physical manifestation of cognitive and mental health issues.
Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between mind and body to address mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma. The Asian American Mental Health Roundtable seeks to bridge the gap for mental health support by working with 12 community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide forms of somatic therapy, including yoga and tai chi classes, typically geared towards older demographics.
For Asian Americans, somatic therapy reflects their cultural sensitivities by emphasizing how the body connects with the mind, delivering it through practices they’re already familiar with. Using meditation, grounding exercises, yoga, and tai chi can empower them to overcome barriers and feel more comfortable exploring their mental health concerns.
The rise of somatic therapy has the potential to help address intergenerational trauma, practice self-compassion, and benefit from a more inclusive mental health sector. Embracing culturally competent care can lower barriers, break cycles, and make mental health support more accessible for Asian Americans.
Mental Health Resources for Asian American Communities
Finding a good therapist that meets your needs involves trial and error. At Coffee Table Wisdoms, we actively share resources from apps to improve your mental health to community-based support groups.
Influencers and online communities like Asians Do Therapy, and the Asian Mental Health Project are working to reduce stigma within the Asian American community and increase accessibility to support services.
You can find out more about somatic therapy by visiting Generative Somatics, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Somatic Experiencing International.
