More than half of Asian New Yorkers report feeling isolated or anxious, yet many don't seek mental health services: report

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Over 60% of Asian New Yorkers feel isolated or anxious, and more than a third have experienced increased distress due to anti-Asian hate crimes, yet a significant gap in mental health treatment persists as many are not seeking help, according to a new study by the Asian American Federation.

The study, Seeking Help, Finding Hope: Mental Health Challenges and Solutions for Asian Americans in New York City , is a mental health report, detailing the mental health challenges and barriers to access in Asian American communities in New York City.

AAF held a press conference on Thursday sharing the key findings of the report and called on lawmakers to take into account cultural and linguistic barriers the community faces when creating mental health care policies.

“Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams have both indicated that the mental health of New Yorkers is a top policy priority for them this year,” Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director of the Asian American Federation, said. “ This will be especially critical to Asian American communities after a years-long spree of increased anti-Asian hate. With this report, we hope to give lawmakers the proper information and tools to serve our communities, who face unique hurdles to accessing care, such as language barriers and cultural stigma.”

Despite over 80% of respondents reported symptoms such as persistent fatigue, insomnia, heart palpitations, headaches, and lack of appetite, feelings commonly associated with mental distress, less than half (45%) acknowledged the need for mental health support. Forty-four percent pointed to New York City's high cost of living as a major stressor that affected their mental well-being.

The report also identified a barrier to accessing mental health services which stemmed from lack of information or misinformation about available support and treatment.

During the pandemic, attacks targeting the Asian American community have escalated, including a violent incident in 2022 where Younghee Choe, a 75-year-old retired nurse, was tackled in a seemingly random assault in Queens.

In a separate case from 2021, a man was sentenced to 15 years in state prison after pleading guilty to a hate crime against 65-year-old Vilma Kari, of Filipino descent, in Hell’s Kitchen. The man  kicked and stomped on Kari, resulting in severe injuries including a fractured pelvis, was captured on surveillance video.

Hate crimes increased by 90% Between 2020 and 2022, according to statewide data . Following the spike in hate crimes, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a $10 million increase in grant funding for hate crime prevention, totaling $60 million to combat hate in the fiscal years 2024 and 2025 budgets.

“In recent years we've seen hate-fueled violence targeting Black residents of Buffalo and disturbing harassment of AAPI and LGBTQ+ individuals on the streets of New York City,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a statement last month. “We will never rest until all New Yorkers feel safe, regardless of who they are, who they love, or how they worship.”

Reports of anti-Asian harassment, discrimination, and violence have surged since February 2020, according to the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Mayor Eric Adams had launched a toolkit for addressing anti-Asian bias, discrimination, and hate in 2021.

During the press conference, AAF officials pointed out ways for lawmakers to take the initiative to combat these issues.

The AAF recommends educating the community, increasing the diversity of healthcare providers, and supporting organizations that work directly with Asian Americans.

They also highlighted the importance of changing  how mental health is viewed in the Asian American community.

The AAF made significant strides by introducing a Mental Health Directory last year which has a directory listing hundreds of providers who speak more than 17 Asian languages.

The report highlighted community-based organizations that directly serve Asian Americans as trusted resources with an already established “understanding of cultural norms, values, and beliefs within the community,” and with targeted funding and partnerships, AAF believes that community-based organizations can play an important role as “cultural brokers” for Asian mental health services.

“The report reveals the harsh reality that Asian New Yorkers face," New York State Senator Iwen Chu said. "To begin addressing the issue, we need to invest in broadening education and outreach, diversifying mental healthcare providers, and bolstering community organizations that offer services with language proficiency. This report comes at a pivotal moment for Asian-Americans and highlights a crisis that New York must not overlook.”