Teen's Health

The United States Government only funded 0.17% of research studies focused on Asian/Americans between 1992 and 2018. 

Research shows that Asian/Americans are the least likely to seek mental health care among all racial-ethnic minority groups.

In Asian culture, there is a stigma around mental health. Asian/American teenagers with parents who teach them to associate emotional distress with shame and disturbing social and family harmony may not feel that they can express their mental health needs to their parents, preventing them from seeking support from parents, which also be a barrier to accessing therapy. 

Perceived barriers include finding culturally competent providers & distrusting mental health care providers. There is a lack of Asian/American providers in the United States.

Eighty-eight percent of health service psychologists are White, and only 3% are Asian/American. Research suggests that having providers with shared cultural backgrounds are key for teenagers.