Asian Am teenage girls have highest rates of depression
Asian American teenage girls have the highest rate of depressive symptoms of any racial, ethnic or gender group according to a report released today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
The report is based on a “listening session” with mental health experts from different Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities held in Los Angeles in November 2010.
Key issues in the report include barriers to mental health services and negative perceptions of mental health problems particular to AAPI communities.
The report highlights statistics from the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) and National Asian Women’s Health Organization (NAWHO) posing concern.
- Asian American girls have the highest rates of depressive symptoms of any racial/ethnic or gender group;
- Young Asian American women ages 15 to 24 die from suicide at a higher rate than other racial/ethnic groups;
- Suicide is the fifth leading cause of death among Asian Americans overall, compared to the ninth leading cause of death for white Americans;
- Older Asian American women have the highest suicide rate of all women over 65; and
- Among Southeast Asians, 71 percent meet criteria for major affective disorders such as depression—with 81 percent among Cambodians and 85 percent among Hmong.
“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders represent a rich diversity of languages and cultures,” said NAMI Executive Director Michael Fitzpatrick. “They include traditions from China, India, Vietnam, Korea and the Philippines to name only a few. Mental health care must recognize cultural differences as well as common inside our broader national community.”
Recommendations include:
- A national strategy of outreach and engagement using cultural messages, ambassadors and social media;
- A linguistically and culturally responsive mental health workforce, including recruitment of bilingual and bicultural members of the AAPI community; and
- Recognition of cultural influences such as tight-knit family connections and individual and family desires to avoid stigma and shame from seeking treatment.
Please do not blame the parents now. It is a clearly a biochemical disorder. The only reason I mention this is due to the feedback we received regarding “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”
There is a new type of depression on the rise. I am so grateful that I finished school before the internet emerged!
What Is Digital Depression? Funny you should ask!
Depression is common among teenagers; each year, an estimated 2 million teens and preteens develop clinical depression, and last year the federal government recommended that all teenagers be screened for depression. So parents may want to note the link between “Internet addiction” and depression, and keep a closer eye on children who depend on screen time as a pacifier or mood stabilizer. A recent study also found a correlation between video game use and ADHD. Like the “Internet addiction” study, no causal link has been proven, but one-third of children exceed the two hours of daily TV and computer screen time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Setting limits on screen time— and enforcing them—can really help.
Digital depression refers to the psychological state associated with technological advances in communications. Inventions such as cell phones, PDAs, laptop computers and the Internet are designed to make life more convenient and connected. However, some people experience adverse effects by the extra stress that this level of connection brings. Digital depression is real and has been documented by psychologists. An already overworked class of business people are being overwhelmed by more technology that puts the office closer to the palm of their hands.
Taking St. John’s Wort can help. St. John’s wort is a plant with yellow flowers whose medicinal uses were first recorded in ancient Greece. The flowering tops of St. John’s wort are used to prepare teas, tablets, and capsules containing concentrated extracts. Liquid extracts and topical preparations are also used. Today, St. John’s wort is used by some for depression, anxiety, and/or sleep disorders.
Yoga, meditation, regular exercise and organic/whole foods really help depression also. These are the natural methods. Obviously, individuals who are suffering from depression need to seek professional help from a psychiatrist first.
Asian women are depressed because they want to be white so bad but deep down inside they know they never will be.
I forgot to mention that it is very important to be in touch with nature and sunlight, especially if you live in a concrete jungle like New York City. During the winter months in a City like New York, many people are prone to depression. Lack of sunlight and nature is a major cause. Investing in a light box is a very smart thing to do if you cannot afford to make weekend trips to Florida or other such destinations.
I have to escape during the winter months myself and go to a sunny place whether it is skiing in Colorado, Utah or Idaho or going to Florida or the Islands. But I also have a light box handly just in case I cannot get away. Trust me, it really helps! Everyone needs a certain amount of sunlight each day.
Retarded statements like this one can make any girl depressed that there are actually people out there who lack the intelligence to think in this manner.
Oh yeah Asian females are fetishized and treated like sex toilets big time. No wonder they’re depressed. Men like to pretend these women and girls “like it” and “want it”. No, wonderboys. They are just good at acting like they do because they *know what it takes to survive and “succeed”*.
Last I checked, Japan had the highest suicide rate. Ya gotta love the old MRA insistence that men kill themselves with more frequency than women because men have it worse.
WRONG as usual.
Men kill themselves with more frequency because they don’t really give a fuck about anything and are prone to temper tantrums. Some peeps- like most women- actually have good reason to kill themselves. But dudes who make more money on the whole and have male privilege and then kill themselves to stick it to that bitchy ol ex wife and misbehavin’ mistress?
Men’s motives are always highly suspect.