Mental health isn’t just about how you feel, but also how you show up and the role of your family, culture, and traditions in your well-being. In a society that continues to stigmatize mental illness, it’s vital that those who work in the field of mental healthcare consider the unique challenges faced by South Asians and their families. In doing so, it’s important to recognize the many barriers that can prevent people from seeking help.
Across their lifetimes, 1 in 5 US South Asians report having a mood or anxiety disorder. The rate is even higher for women. Unfortunately, these conditions can have serious implications for their physical and social health if they go undiagnosed and untreated. The need for a Mental Health Specialist for South Asians is clear, but tackling the issue requires more than just educating the community about the importance of seeking treatment. It’s about providing services that are culturally sensitive and fostering a support network that’s relatable.
For many, it’s difficult to talk about how they feel if the person isn’t a close relative or friend. Whether it’s fear of being labeled, or simply not knowing what symptoms to look for, these factors can make it challenging to seek help. It’s not surprising that this lack of knowledge can lead to misdiagnoses or untreated conditions, despite the fact that mental health issues are highly common for the community.
The problem is made worse by the fact that there are still so many barriers to getting the help they need. Collectivism—the practice of prioritizing the needs and concerns of one’s own group over those of others—can play a role in both preventing someone from seeking care and hindering their ability to overcome the challenges they are facing. This can be especially true for immigrant communities where a reluctance to discuss mental health is tied to fears of losing their cultural identity.
Mental health professionals are needed to address these broader structural problems that can contribute to the wellbeing of the South Asian community, including racism and mental health, youth issues, Covid-19, and the challenges of raising bicultural families. It’s important for providers to engage in self-reflection and lifelong learning that encourages a holistic conceptualization of mental health, which respects service users’ personal values and faith while maintaining curiosity towards the unique cultural and sociopolitical context affecting their wellbeing.
Fortunately, there are resources available to help people seeking a mental health specialist for South Asians find the support they need. For example, SAMHIN offers a directory of providers who can understand the language, cultures, and religions of the community as well as other resources such as workshops and educational literature. Similarly, MannMukti is a website that connects people with mental health professionals who demonstrate cultural sensitivity and create safe spaces for open dialogue. With the help of these and other tools, it is possible to break the barriers that prevent people from getting the help they need.