The United States has seen a significant increase in anti-Asian hate crime and discrimination over the past year. Since spring 2020, "anti-Asian bigotry and misinformation spread almost as quickly as the virus [corona] itself," said Rep Judy Chu at an online panel discussion hosted by the American Counseling Association last month to highlight the recent surge in the anti-Asian mood and the role of the professional advisor in dealing with it.
"Mental health conversations have never been more important," she noted. "Every time there is a new report of an innocent Asian American being attacked, many across the country worry, 'Will I be next?'" Chu, a Democrat who has represented California's 27th District since 2009, a psychologist and the first in China – American woman elected to Congress.
She was one of three lawmakers in the panel discussion on July 21st. Other speakers included Sens. Sharon Tomiko Santos from Washington and Chris Lee from Hawaii, as well as ACA CEO Richard Yep and ACA President S. Kent Butler.
Panellists noted that stigma and barriers, including isolation or marginalization due to language barriers, often discourage people in the Asia-American and Pacific Islander Community (AAPI) from using mental health services. Lee and Santos also discussed how mental health, trauma, and the COVID-19 pandemic overlap.
"The problems we are seeing have a lot to do with the isolation we have experienced under COVID-19 restrictions and the challenges facing the race that have never been resolved in our country," said Santos, who as a community activist for more than 40 years. “What we are seeing, in my opinion, is the sharpening of these fault lines that have existed in our communities for many, many years. … These are challenges that we are all working together on state and federal level to overcome. "
Butler stated that counselors are called to help all disadvantaged groups. Helping people regardless of their origin or immigration status is not only an ethical mandate, but also part of “who we are” as advisors, stressed Butler.
Although numerous measures have been passed by local and state legislatures to better prosecute and combat anti-Asian violence and hostility in the United States, "we still have to do more," Chu said. "There is so much that can be done to support our communities and advisors are at the forefront."
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Watch the full video of the July 21st event on ACA's YouTube page: youtu.be/PYAvqIOWEzo
Related reading from Counseling Today
Measures
Support the following initiatives and others by visiting the ACA Take Action page:
American history class in the Asia Pacific region
Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act
Law on Improving Access to Mental Health in Schools
More from ACA
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Bethany Bray is the senior writer and social media coordinator for Counseling Today. Contact them at [email protected].
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