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Post by Admin on Oct 19, 2015 16:06:34 GMT -4
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Post by Manali Saraiya on Oct 20, 2015 15:36:17 GMT -4
Mental health is a something that needs more awareness across many cultures. A lot of immigrant families want what is best for their children so they continue to push them without realizing the weight it is putting on their children. It is good that awareness is slowly starting to work its way to the newer generations. Universities should not only provide counseling to students, but they should start to work on dual therapy that will help bring their parents/families better understanding on what their child is going through. Once an open dialogue can be formed, it will be easier for the parents to help their child cope at home. Also, the children will feel better if they believe they have a good support system instead of feeling like they have let their family down.
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Post by Gonzalo de Villa on Oct 20, 2015 15:56:40 GMT -4
In many Asian cultures parents set high expectations on their children. This high expectation can start as early as elementary school and carries on throughout college. By the time these children reach college they start to mentally break down leading to things such as anxiety and depression. A great deal of the Asian American youth has a lot of pressure because they don’t want to disappoint their parents. Failure is very much looked down upon in the many Asian cultures. I believe is very important to set a balance between expectations and the potential a child has. Educating parents and making them understand the potential consequences of set the bar so high for their children is key to preventing potential psychiatric illness in the Asian American community or in any community that pushes their children to the limits.
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Post by Steven Choi on Oct 20, 2015 17:02:30 GMT -4
As a fellow Korean-American, I resonate deeply with this article. I also find it fascinating, given the recent reading I've done about how chronic stress and sleep deprivation causes decreases in gray matter of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens (which are pretty much the sensory gateways of the brain), which then is thought to put a person at risk of developing chronic pain, tinnitis, and depression. The taboos in regards to talking about emotions and such, the importance of honor and shame, are deeply rooted in Confucian-influenced societies. I won't be surprised if these ideals have parallels in Hindu societies as well. The word 'depression' has no Korean equivalent. Its literal meaning is "in the middle of crying". I can't speak for Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, or other Asian languages though, in terms of what the equivalent of 'depression' means. There is reason for hope, though. As psychology becomes more commonplace, I think future immigrants won't have to go through this mental health stigma as much!
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Post by Rosemary Chofor on Oct 20, 2015 19:43:12 GMT -4
Even though this article is based on the Asian American culture, I think it can be applied to many other cultures. In the part of Cameroon where I grew up, the stigma associated with mental health is alarming. Growing up, we are taught to be strong, be brave and deal with whatever situation comes up. There is a lot of mental toughness that is instilled in most us at a tender age. In as much as these values are good, there is the denial that there are some things we cannot handle by ourselves, and the ignorance that mental health exists. Education and awareness on mental health issues is very essential and letting people know that it is ok to seek help when you need it is fundamental. Like the article mentioned, having these support systems on university campuses and where they are accessible to the public goes a long way to saving lives.
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Post by Asia Filatov on Oct 20, 2015 21:34:53 GMT -4
Many cultures seize depression and portray it as a sign of vulnerability. The stigma of mental health is common among many cultures. Many do not address the fatality of declining cognition and shunt the idea of psychological disorders. Many cultures embed over achieving in their children and set high expectations for education and careers. It is detrimental, future generations attain greater success then their parents. In order to solidify future success, immigrant parents are very strict with schooling. If I scored a 98% on an exam, my grandfather would be disappointed and say why did you not get a 100%. To avoid hospitalization for un-treated mental conditions bouts of emotional distress, instability should be addressed early in the course of depression and/or anxiety. Recognizing deterioration in mental capacity and emotional stability is essential to lead a healthy life style that requires individuals to learn to deal with everyday stress.
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Post by Stephen W Beckett on Oct 20, 2015 22:29:21 GMT -4
This is an interesting article that raises awareness to a problem that is probably lesser known to those that are not Asian. I think most people in this category believe the stereotype that Asian-American/Asian students are high achievers, and that their parents raise their children with high expectations in academic performance. My 13-year-old daughter is enrolled in a STEM program in her middle school, and has related stories of the stress and pressure that is applied to her Asian-American friends by their parents. Because of the difficulty of the program, two of her friends that fit this profile have been transferred out of not only the program, but to a different school altogether--due to less-than-stellar academic performance. Although these girls are only in the Eighth Grade, their parents were apparently concerned enough that this would affect their future high school transcripts.
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Post by Simran Bains on Oct 21, 2015 11:32:51 GMT -4
Asian Americans have ever growing pressures to follow the culture of their immigrant families and at the same time fit in with the growing pressures of living in America and fitting in with the culture of Americans. It can become very difficult to be able to express yourself as an Asian American and still be who you want to be and who your family wants you to be. With increasing stress from family to do well in school and the fact that certain mental health illnesses and depression are not regarded as “real” in some families, students will unfortunately have no way to express their frustration and stress to people who might be able to help them. I think that it is very good that schools are aware of this growing problem and are implementing ways and resources for students to use. Parents should also be aware of the stresses anxiety that their children may have.
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Post by Minh Tran on Oct 21, 2015 17:07:50 GMT -4
This is an interesting article displaying awareness of stress, anxiety, and depression among Asian-Americans in college. Being an Asian-American myself, one could argue that these psychology disorders originate before college due to the pressures from Asian-American families to excel in academia. The increasing trend of anxiety and depression among Asian-Americans has lead to more unfortunate outcomes such as suicide. The increase in support groups and counselors noted in the article among college campuses for individuals struggling with psychiatric disorders is a unique idea. It gives individuals a chance to express their anxiety and depression in a more familiar and friendly environment instead of keeping it "bottled up." There should be more counselors even at the high school level to address the issue at an earlier stage.
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Post by Payal Manohar on Oct 21, 2015 22:12:25 GMT -4
This article reveals that even though we are in the 21st century, we are still living in a society that thinks it is shameful to seek help for depression and anxiety. In many countries, kids are put under stress to excel in education, sports, and showcase their talents. Every parent wants their kids to be the best, but they don't think twice of how much pressure this puts on their children leading to depression. Seeking counseling shouldn't be looked down upon, it can save many lives and teach students ways of coping with such mental illness. More Universities such as Cornell and Stanford should start counseling groups for students that are seeking help and bring awareness.
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Post by Norah Essali on Oct 22, 2015 9:44:07 GMT -4
Stigma is a consequence of silence and as discussed in this article, a person that is going through hardship and is unable to discuss it with anyone is likely to suffer more than someone who has support. That is what children from immigrant families, especially Asian, have to deal with when faced with pressure to excel at school, bullying for being different or adapting to a new culture. These children are usually unable to find support for their emotional and mental stresses because their families and communities usually view mental illness as a shame and something that needs to be avoided and ignored. This is not different from the stigma and prejudice that mentally ill people face all over the world and that is why that in an age where globalization is easily achieved through the internet, it is crucial to campaign harder than ever to raise awareness for mental illness. Mentally ill people have the right to be viewed by society the same way a diabetic or a hypertensive patient is viewed and it is the responsibility of everyone to spread the word about them.
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Post by Candace Chumley on Oct 22, 2015 11:17:09 GMT -4
Depression and anxiety are two very common mental health issues that many cultures and age groups suffer from. In many instances the person's culture, family, and friends could be a huge contributory factor to their anxiety and depression, which could make it harder for the person to reach out for help. In my opinion, it is our responsibility to take control of our own health care whether it is a recognizable problem to our culture or not. No matter what the problem is, different cultures will always be judgmental over issues whether they are not accepted or unrecognized. I can relate to the hardships of being from a different culture and trying to adjust to a new lifestyle. Parents and schools should be aware of these adjustments and open up to communication in order to help prevent symptoms of depression and anxiety.
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Post by Paul Lavoie on Oct 22, 2015 11:36:48 GMT -4
Depression and anxiety are 2 ongoing issues that are extremely prevalent amongst University students. Many Universities seek to train students to learn to cope with the stress that comes with an overwhelming workload in order to better prepare you. While I agree with the concept of training us to remain productive and composed while facing stress, everyone handles stress differently. What makes one person stronger and better equipped may end up causing another person to become overwhelmed and induce panic. It's a well known fact that the older generation of the Asian community look at illness as a form of weakness, they often feel ashamed to be seen in a state of despair, which they portray onto their children making it nearly impossible for them to be able to discuss the feelings they are suffering from with their parents. Its a relief to see that Universities are making a strong attempt to aide in these cases before they get to the point of taking drastic measures. We must show these children that it is perfectly acceptable to talk about your feelings and these feelings are not indicative of weakness - in fact its a sign of strength.
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Post by Ralph Reedy on Oct 22, 2015 12:21:34 GMT -4
This week's article raises an interesting topic with examples from the personal stories of young Asian adults dealing with mental health issues. The overall gist is one of creating increased awareness and available support systems for these individuals by overcoming the stigma associated with “performance centered” Asian stereotypes. The article does call to action the need to debunk the taboo that is associated with not seeking care because of a perceived sense of personal/familial failure. Stepping back and taking a look at the situation as it fits into the bigger picture we can see that current CDC stats still have suicide as the 2nd leading cause of death with young adults nationwide which validates it as a legitimate safety concern. Overall, when considering the often unassumed risk factors for adults from Asian culture that are associated with suicide and then compare the possibly lacking protective factors available it is totally plausible to see how young Asian adults could fall into a niche category in mental health. The first step is to create awareness and I think that the article has done a great job as far as that goes, however I would also advocate a counter argument about how statistically relevant the issue is in comparison to other cultural/ethnic groups and the total population. That is to say while the concern is legitimate it does not represent the highest risk groups currently.
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Post by Gily Raz on Oct 22, 2015 15:47:18 GMT -4
"The Dangerous Weight of Expectations" examines whether cultural bias plays a role in the perception of mental illness. It seems a general stigma remains surrounding societal acceptance of such conditions as depression and anxiety, both in the US and internationally. Asian-Americans specifically, must navigate through the pressures of American culture while staying true to their diverse roots. However, I am weary of the statistics presented in this article. It appears more likely that the majority of college students suffer from bouts of depression and anxiety, stemming from the pressures they feel financially, socially, and from their families. As a daughter of immigrant parents, perhaps I feel more pressure to succeed and assimilate in American culture than my American colleagues, but I do not believe the cultural differences contribute in any way to suppression of mental illness.
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