Asian American Mental Health Issues

According to the 2010 United States Census, approximately 17,320,856 Americans are of Asian descent, of which nearly 4% identify as Muslim. It is likely that the population of Asian American Muslims will increase in the future, as Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial group in the United States, while Islam is the fastest growing religious group in the country. The intersection of Asian Americans who also identify as Muslims face unique challenges, particularly in terms of mental health. They must deal with navigating between two identities that are sometimes seen as irreconcilable: their often-conservative religious and cultural heritages, as well as their increasingly liberal and secular American surroundings. This perceived clash of cultures can result in a cognitive dissonance that is difficult to manage. Furthermore, Islamophobic sentiments espoused by the media, coupled with daily microaggressions and discrimination that target both their religion and their cultures, plus other complex factors such as immigration and refugee processes, can lead to an unprecedented rise in mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This problem is quite pressing, especially …show more content…
The WHIAAPI can work with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to jointly administer studies on a national level. Cultural and religious experts who are also members of the Asian American Muslim community must be included in the research process to ensure inclusivity and maximum effectiveness of these initiatives. The results of the research should then be disseminated to federal agencies, community leaders, religious centers, and health care providers to implement solutions from the grassroots level to the national