SEA-king Clarity on Southeast Asian Mental Health Stereotypes

By: Justin Le, Tiffany Pham, Anthony Tran, Lenh Voong, and Eva Lieu

➢ Mental health consists of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

➢ Affects how we think, feel and act.

➢ Determines how we relate to others, make choices, and handle stress.

What is Mental Health?

➢ A medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning.

➢ Good news : Recovery is possible by treatment.

➢ Can affect persons of any age, gender, race, religion or income. ➢ Not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing.

What is Mental Illness?

A persistent difficulty of discarding or parting with possessions because of a

perceived need to save them.

● Symptoms include:

➢ excessive attachment to possessions➢ cluttered living spaces ➢ difficulty managing daily activities➢ limited or no social interaction.

Hoarding Disorder

A mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. ● Symptoms include:

➢ angry outbursts➢ loss of interest in normal activities➢ sleep disturbances➢ lack of energy➢ changes in appetite➢ anxiety➢ feelings of worthlessness or guilt➢ trouble focusing➢ suicidal thoughts➢ self mutilation

Depression

● A condition of persistent mental and emotional stress triggered by injury or psychological shock

● Symptoms are grouped into 4 types: ➢ Intrusive memories➢ Avoidance➢ Negative changes in thinking & mood➢ Changes in emotional reactions.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Pass or Fail in Cambodia Town Video

From Pass or Fail in Cambodia Town

Mental Health within the SEA Community

● Social Stigma ➢ Reaction the general

population has to people with mental illness

● Self-Stigma ➢ Prejudice which people

with mental illness have against themselves

● Victim can be seen by society as:○ Dangerous and unpredictable○ Incompetent○ Crazy○ Self-inflicted○ Aloof○ Little hope for recovery○ “Need to get over it” ○ “It’ll pass” ○ “Just sad”

Social Stigma

● Self-doubt

● Shame

● “Why try?”

● Thinking that it’s controllable without help

● Thinking that it’s a personal weakness

● Equating oneself with the illness

Self-stigma

● Causes isolation, alienation, outbursts of emotions

● Leads to validation of stereotypes

● Creates a cycle of depression

● Developing feelings of inferiority and self-doubt

● Equation of oneself to the illness

➢ Instead of “I have schizophrenia” it’s “I’m a schizophrenic.”

● Denial of illness and unwillingness to seek help

● Unable to find career

The Effects of Stigmas and Stereotypes

● Learn about Southeast Asian history

● Overcome the language barrier

● Break the silence● Be patient and persistent● Remain calm even when they

are not● Do not say that you know how

the person feels

Discussing mental illness with Southeast Asians

● Name 3 different types of mental illnesses.

● True or False: mental illness is something you can easily overcome by yourself.

● Name 2 examples of social stigmas placed on those with mental illnesses.

● Name one challenge one might have when trying to speak to family about mental health.

● Why is discussing mental health with your family important?

● How can you go about opening up to your family about mental health?

Quiz