Mental health awareness and mental healthcare is even MORE stigmatized in East Asian cultures than it is in the west, so I know I’ll likely get some flack for posting this by family members who are subscribers. But I want the want the whole world to know that it’s okay. And that we need to work harder to destigmatize in some cultures.
Many outside of East Asian communities think it’s all because of racism - especially systemic racism - in North America, and that is the primary reason people do not seek help. Ummmmm, no. By implying that it is the ONLY reason is basically denying the history of East Asian cultures, particularly those influenced by Confucius. Chinese culture, for example, even MODERN Chinese culture, despite the Cultural Revolution, wouldn’t exist without Confucianism. And the worse thing that could happen is if you feel like you’ve lost face. You need to remain strong and show that you CAN do things, pick up if you’ve failed. So paying someone to help you means you’re weak. That sounds really wrong to me, I think admitting that you need help, that you’re WILLING to go out to find someone who CAN help you is a sense of STRENGTH. Honestly, I think anyone who DOESN’T seek help is weak.
Okay, we also have to look at the realities. There just aren’t as many people from Asian communities who even seek out careers in these fields. Parents aren’t encouraging them. And then immigrants there are language barriers. It isn’t just cultural barriers that people have to overcome sometimes. If you live in a part of the Greater Toronto Area like, say, Markham (which is, like 45% Chinese or something like that) and you primarily speak Cantonese, you might have a fairly easy time finding a Cantonese-speaking GP, but a therapist? Good luck. A 40 year old well into their career just can’t pick up and become a therapist. It’s just not possible. You can encourage young people to consider the field, but it’ll be years before they’re ready. So the shortage will continue for the next decade at least.
It’s a bit easier for those of us who are Anglophone, but some people are still looking for someone who better understands their culture. But still, there’s a shortage of those who are at least adjacent to these communities and can better understand them. And since many young people don’t even think about the field, I think a bit of a boost to encourage a choice would be more than a good idea. However, there’s still the stigma with the older generation, who might not want to tell their friends that their kids are therapists. This would NOT be a sense of shame for me, especially since I see a therapist myself. If Jr. Mintz says he wants to be a psychiatrist or psychologist, then SURE, go ahead.
It’s really hard to convert a culture that is thousands of years old without changing its core values. And that has nothing to do with what many westerners think is racism related. It’s culture, period. Many already lived through forced cultural change in the name of the Cultural Revolution some 60 years ago (aka the BIGGEST CANCEL CULTURE CAMPAIGN IN RECENT HISTORY), and really don’t want to go through it again. But still, if you need help, you should feel that it’s okay to get help without thinking it’s offensive to your background. Or that it’s wrong/bad to go into a career that helps people with those needs.
Note: I don’t actually see a therapist from the same culture! In fact, my therapist is a guy and probably the only thing we have in common is that we’re around the same age!