Breaking the Stigma: Mental Health in South Asian Communities

Introduction

Mental health is a critical aspect of overall well-being for everyone, yet in many South Asian communities, it remains a taboo subject. The deep-rooted cultural values, societal expectations, and lack of awareness contribute to the ongoing stigma surrounding mental health issues. This article explores the attitudes towards mental health in South Asian communities and highlights the efforts of organizations like JiVA Mental Health to break this stigma and promote a healthier approach to mental well-being.

A South Asian Family in Los Angeles

​Attitudes towards Mental Health in South Asian Communities

The Strength of Being South Asian: South Asian culture is strongly centered around family, with family members demonstrating unwavering respect for each other and striving to fulfill each others’ expectations. 

The notion of community and family is incredibly powerful, and these expectations can become demanding when living in an individualistic society like the United States.  When pressures arise, sharing challenging thoughts and emotions amongst each other is not as common as it may present. 

Mental Health Awareness in the United States 
In the United States, mental health awareness at large is exponentially growing and resources are becoming readily available. It is encouraged to share your thoughts and feelings with others, even if they may be slightly demanding or irregular. However, in South Asian communities, mental health challenges are often seen as mere ideas, in the sense that difficult thoughts you may be having are just in your head and can be easily overcome by being busy. Research shows that South Asians tend to ignore mental health challenges to achieve success and maintain a facade of strength, avoiding shame for themselves and their families.

Stigma and Denial 
Recent research with South Asians confirms that their background sets up their attitude toward mental health, and countless factors like generalizations, socioeconomic status, and heredity intertwine to form a person’s level of awareness.  According to Cedars-Sinai, 48% of white Americans receive treatment for mental health, whereas only 22% of Asian Americans receive treatment, with South Asians being a fraction  of that 22%. Many traditional South Asian communities attach harsh stigmatizing labels to everyday mental health challenges, using terms like "crazy," "mad," or "insane." Growing up with such attitudes leads many South Asians to deny their mental health issues and refuse necessary support. Mental health challenges are often seen as personal weaknesses, discouraging individuals from seeking help. As a matter of fact, Asian Americans are three times less likely to seek mental health services than their white counterparts. This denial spans all ages and levels of mental health knowledge - this is where JiVA Mental Health thrives.

​JiVA Mental Health: Advocating for Change

JiVA Mental Health is a modern-day non-profit organization that aims to eliminate the stigma accompanying mental health amongst South Asians in the United States. Through consistent and informative advocacy efforts to raise awareness, JiVA has successfully educated over 500 South Asians in less than one year since birth. 
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Their mission to raise awareness has not only inspired many to get the help and guidance they deserve but also refine the community’s stigmatized perspective on mental health. JiVA regularly combats stereotypes, fighting for unconditional acceptance and support for the South Asian community in efforts to create healthier cultures. If you would like to make an impact, volunteering, attending events, reposting on social media, or even just sharing information are all a step towards an inclusive and stigma-free society. 

By Ayusha Rajesh, JiVA Volunteer
Ektha Aggarwal, LCSW