Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Care in Asian Communities

Written By Ara .

In my clinical work as a mental health provider, my non-profit work in Asian mental health advocacy, and my personal experiences as an Asian American passionate about mental health, I have heard over the years some common barriers that Asians identify as obstacles that prevented them from getting professional mental health support. 

For fellow Asians and Asian Americans, I hope that by highlighting some common themes below, you will feel less alone in your mental health journey and may in turn be more likely to try reaching out for professional help. For therapists and mental health professionals, I hope that you can read through the common themes below and adjustments in your own practice or workplace to reduce barriers for Asian clients to access care.

Money, Time, & Resources

As is the case for many therapy-seekers, money, time, and other resources can be deterrents for Asian people to access mental health care. Being able to take time off of work or school, have reliable transportation to get to and from therapy appointments, or have the financial resources to pay for therapy are privileges that not everyone has access to. Some therapists offer reduced cost or pro-bono therapy. Organizations like Inclusive Therapists and Asian Mental Health Collective also offer therapy funds, which can cover a few months of treatment.

Therapy is an investment, and it can be helpful to use a pros & cons table like this one (or some other form of reflection, like journaling or talking it through with a trusted person) to explore if therapy is worth your time and resources at this time in your life.

Stigma

There is still a substantial amount of stigma associated with mental health therapy and mental illness in the Asian community. Many people may hold inaccurate mental health information or beliefs that interfere with their willingness to consider getting professional help (for example, “I am weak if I need therapy”, “People with mental illness are crazy”, or “I’m not suffering enough right now to need therapy”). 

Additionally, being in a community where stigma is more prominent can become an obstacle. Many Asian people are afraid that their family members, friends, relatives, or community members will judge them for “needing” or seeking out mental health services. For many Asian people, receiving therapy was not a behavior that was modeled for them by other adults or authority figures in their lives.

Family Influences

Building off of that, many Asian people I have spoken to have cited that they did not seek out therapy because they received explicit disapproval from family members around seeking out mental health support (i.e. “Why would you do that, only crazy people need therapy?” or “You aren’t even struggling, why would you waste money on that kind of stuff?”). In Asian culture, the opinions of parents and elders can bear a lot of significance in individual decision making processes. It can be extremely discouraging if someone we respect tells us not to do something, especially if we ourselves are already on the fence about it.

Not Knowing What to Expect

Many Asian people I have spoken to have mentioned a fear of trying therapy because they do not know what to expect. There is anxiety around not knowing what a therapy session will be like, what they will be asked, and what information they will be expected to provide. Hierarchy is very pronounced in Asian cultures, and many Asian clients may feel like they are required to answer all the therapist’s questions or  present a certain way because of the power imbalance. 

Misconceptions of Privacy

In a similar vein, many Asian clients may have misconceptions about what privacy they can expect from their therapist. I have heard from many people that they have a concern that their diagnosis or treatment history will show up on a job application or background check in the future. While every therapist has an informed consent process and likely is spending some time in the first appointment to discuss confidentiality, it can be helpful for therapists to slow down and make sure they are answering their client’s concerns around privacy.

Appointment Scheduling Process

Many Asian people I have spoken to have noted that being required to schedule appointments via phone call was a deterrent in their process of trying to find a therapist. Many Asian clients may already be struggling to find a therapist (with availability!) in the first place. Not having an online contact option or booking form can be a huge obstacle for someone to navigate as they try to initiate care.

Other scheduling considerations also include worrying that clients are required to have the same appointment time each week (if their job requires flexibility around seeing their therapist at different times each week), and around preferences for in-person vs online appointments. To this last consideration, it seems that many therapists do not make it abundantly clear on their website whether they offer, or have availability, for in-person or online appointments. I personally have experienced challenges where a therapist’s profile seemed to indicate that they were available in-person for sessions, but they actually only had online availability on their caseload.

Finding a Good Fit

Finally, many Asian people may be concerned about putting in a lot of effort to find a therapist, only to find that their therapist is not a good fit. I personally have had a lot of challenges in my own mental health journey trying to find either 1. an Asian therapist, or 2. a therapist that can understand (and not pathologize) my Asian background. It can be challenging to find culturally competent care, and to know before working with a therapist if they will be a good fit for your needs. Asian therapy seekers may also struggle with communicating what their struggles are, especially if they don’t have a baseline starting out of what is “normal” and what is “pathology”.

While there are many barriers to accessing mental health care for the Asian community, it can also be helpful to recognize the resources that we can pull from. Pulling from resources like school supports, clubs, or peer friendships and relationships can be helpful as you navigate your next steps in supporting your mental health.

 

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About the Author

Adora (she/her) is a licensed clinical mental health counselor associate and owner of Spring Day Therapy PLLC. In the past she has worked in various mental health settings with different age groups, populations, and levels of care. In the therapy room, Adora operates from a DBT-informed and culturally-responsive lens to support clients in working through challenges and create real-life changes. Her work is further enhanced by her passion and training in supporting Autistic individuals and providing culturally responsive care for Asian populations.

Outside the therapy room, Adora has experience working in mental health research, and is also the founder and president of FAUNA Mental Health Foundation, an Asian mental health advocacy nonprofit. She currently leads an international team of volunteers and interns to provide accessible mental health resources through their website and workshops with community partners.

Interested in receiving therapy with Spring Day Therapy? Fill out an interest form below to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with Adora!

Ara .
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