Three decades of research on mental health show that Asian Americans exhibit high numbers of depressive symptoms as well as confounding factors such as war experiences, abuse, and stress.
Of reported data, Asian American women over the age of 65 have the highest female suicide mortality rate among women across all racial/ethnic groups. Among women aged 15 – 24, Asian American girls have the highest suicide mortality rates across all racial/ethnic groups.
Asian American adolescent girls have the highest rates of depressive symptoms of all racial/ethnic and gender groups.
Asian American college students report higher levels of depressive symptoms than white students.
Asian American adolescent boys are twice as likely as whites to have been physically abused, and three times as likely to report sexual abuse.
Asian Americans have the lowest utilization for mental health services and are more likely to have psychotic diagnoses in inpatient and outpatient settings. Studies further show that Asian Americans have greater disturbance levels than do non-Asian clients.
Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Korean immigrants consistently report higher numbers of depressive symptoms than whites.
Studies show that Chinese Americans have a lifetime prevalence rate of major depression as high as 17%, with 10% reporting a major depression within the past year.
Source: THE NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE FOR ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN’S MENTAL HEALTH
