Asian American & Pacific Islander mental health

Your story is your own, not a stereotype. Your feelings count, and care that understands your roots is out there.

⏱ 6 min read📑 11 sections📚 23 sources✅ Reviewed October 2026

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By the numbers

Who we are, what people face, and the gaps in care.

These numbers describe patterns, not any one person. Lower numbers for reported mental illness can also reflect stigma and fewer people asking for help, not less pain.

Who we are

24.8 millionAsian Americans lived in the U.S. in 2023, about 7% of the population, from more than two dozen origin groups.

54%of Asian Americans were immigrants in 2023, down from 63% in 2000.

566,450people identified as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone in 2024. Hawaii has the highest share of its population.

Getting care

45%less likely: Asian American adults compared with all U.S. adults to have received mental health treatment in the past year (2024).

60%less likely: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults compared with all U.S. adults to have received mental health treatment in the past year (2024).

55%of Asian adults who sought mental health care found it hard to find a provider who understood their background, compared with 38% of White adults (2023).

Bias & stereotypes

78%of Asian adults have been treated as a foreigner in some way, even if they were born in the U.S.

58%of Asian adults say they have experienced racial discrimination or unfair treatment.

63%say strangers have assumed they are good at math and science, or not creative thinkers.

Young people

61%more likely: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander high school students compared with students nationwide to report a suicide attempt in the past year (2023).

10%more likely: Asian American boys in high school compared with other U.S. boys to report a suicide attempt in the past year (2023).

5.3suicide deaths per 100,000 among Asian American girls aged 15–19, compared with 4.7 among all girls that age (2023).

If these numbers touch something painful, you are not alone. In the U.S., call or text 988 any time. Interpreters are available by phone in more than 240 languages.

Many peoples, many stories

What “AAPI” covers, and why your own words matter most.

“Asian American and Pacific Islander” (AAPI) is a wide umbrella. It covers people whose families come from East, South and Southeast Asia, and the Native peoples of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. Each group has its own languages, faiths, histories and reasons for being here.

Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese Americans are the six largest Asian origin groups. Together they make up 86% of Asian Americans, but many other communities belong here too.

🏷️ Words people useAAPI, AANHPI, Asian American, Desi, Pacific Islander, or simply “Korean” or “Samoan”.

Many people prefer to name their own heritage first, such as Hmong, Punjabi or Tongan. Others use wider terms for shared experiences and organising.

Common terms

AANHPI: Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. It names Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders on their own
Asian American: people of Asian heritage in the U.S.
Desi: a word many people with roots in South Asia use for themselves
Pacific Islander or Pasifika: people with roots in Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia

Not sure which word someone uses? Ask kindly, and use what they tell you.

🌺 Pacific Islanders are their own groupNative Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are Indigenous peoples, not a subgroup of Asian Americans.

U.S. federal standards count Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander as a separate group. It includes Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Chamorro, Tongan, Fijian and Marshallese people, among others.

When their numbers are lumped in with Asian Americans, their needs can disappear. That is why this guide has a section just for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander wellbeing.

🔍 Hidden inside the averageOne “Asian American” number can hide very different lives.

A recent immigrant working long shifts, a fourth-generation Japanese American and a refugee family from Laos can have very different needs. When data are not broken down by group, those differences get lost.

Experiences also differ by income. For example, people with higher incomes were more likely to have heard of the “model minority” label.

🧩 Mixed heritageMany people are Asian or Pacific Islander and another heritage too.

People can identify as Asian and also as Hispanic, White, Black or another race. Your identity can hold more than one story.

The Multiracial & mixed identity guide goes deeper into belonging, questions about “what you are”, and finding your place.

No guide can describe your whole story. Take what fits, and leave what doesn’t.

The “model minority” myth

A “positive” stereotype that can hide real struggles.

The “model minority” stereotype paints Asian Americans as naturally successful, quiet and problem-free. It can sound like praise, but it flattens millions of people into one image.

In a 2023 survey, 63% of Asian adults said strangers had assumed they were good at math and science, or not creative thinkers. Among those who knew the term “model minority”, more called it a bad thing (42%) than a good thing (17%).

🙈 It hides people who are strugglingIf everyone “is fine”, no one checks.

When others assume you are doing well, your stress, sadness or money worries can go unseen. Teachers, bosses and even clinicians may miss signs that someone needs support.

In focus groups, young Asian Americans named pressure to succeed, culture clashes with parents, family caregiving and discrimination as common stresses.

🏋️ It adds pressureFeeling you must always succeed is heavy.

Some people feel they must prove the stereotype right, or that struggling means failing their family or community. Mistakes can feel bigger than they are.

The Perfectionism guide has gentle ways to loosen “all or nothing” standards.

🤐 It makes asking for help harder“People like me don’t need therapy” is a myth too.

Young Asian Americans in one study said most people their age don’t seek professional help. Stigma was the main barrier, followed by low awareness, not wanting to worry parents, and few providers who shared their language or culture.

Needing support is human. It does not cancel out your strengths or your family’s sacrifices.

🧱 It divides communitiesComparing groups of people hurts everyone.

The myth is often used to compare Asian Americans with other communities of colour. That comparison ignores history and different starting points, and it can push groups apart instead of together.

Many Asian Americans now push back on the label and build solidarity across communities instead.

You are allowed to be ordinary, to struggle, and to rest. You don’t have to be a model of anything.

Treated as a foreigner, and anti-Asian hate

“Where are you really from?” and worse, and how it weighs on the mind.

Many Asian Americans are treated as outsiders in their own country. In a 2023 survey, 78% of Asian adults said they had been treated as a foreigner, even if they were born in the U.S.

What it can look like

Being asked “Where are you really from?”
Being called offensive names by strangers (37% of Asian adults say this has happened)
Being praised for your English when it’s your first language
Being told to “go back” to a country you may never have lived in
People mixing you up with others of the same background

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, 32% of Asian adults say they know another Asian person in the U.S. who was threatened or attacked because of their race or ethnicity. Hearing about attacks can leave people feeling unsafe even if it didn’t happen to them.

💔 Why it hurts so muchBeing told you don’t belong strikes at identity and safety.

Repeated slights add up, even small ones. People may feel on guard in public, tired, angry, sad, or ashamed of things they should be proud of, like their food, name or language.

The Racial trauma guide explains how racism affects the mind and body, and has a worksheet for after a hard moment.

👵 Elders and familiesWorry for older relatives is common.

Many families worry about parents and grandparents going out alone, especially those who speak little English. Checking in, walking together, and sharing safety plans can ease the fear.

Elders may not talk about frightening experiences. Gentle, private questions in their language can help them open up.

🤝 Coping and taking actionRest, connection and, if you want, speaking up.

Limit news and social media about attacks when it feels too much
Name what happened to someone you trust
Join or support a community group
Report hate incidents if and when you feel ready
Spend time with people and places that make you proud of who you are

If you were attacked or are in danger, call 911. The Racial trauma guide lists how to report a hate crime and find victim support.

Family, duty and saving face

Love, sacrifice and expectations, and why talking about feelings can be hard.

In many Asian and Pacific Islander families, family comes first. Caring for parents, honouring elders and making the family proud are deep values. They can bring great strength and belonging.

The same values can make it hard to talk about mental health. Some people worry that struggling will bring shame on the family, or “lose face”. Young adults in one study said they held back so they wouldn’t worry their parents.

🎁 Repaying sacrificeKnowing what parents gave up can bring gratitude and guilt.

Many children of immigrants feel they must succeed to make their parents’ hard work worth it. Choosing a different path, or simply feeling sad, can come with guilt.

The Children of immigrants guide looks closely at high expectations, guilt and living between cultures.

💬 Feelings without wordsSome languages and families rarely name feelings out loud.

Love is often shown through food, work and care rather than words. Distress may also show up as headaches, stomach trouble or tiredness instead of “I feel sad”.

The Culture & mental health guide explains how distress can speak through the body, and has a worksheet for finding your own words.

🧺 Caregiving dutiesLooking after parents, siblings or grandparents can be a lot.

Young Asian Americans named family caregiving as one of their main stresses, along with school and work.

Caring for family can be meaningful and exhausting at once. Both can be true.

🚪 Opening the conversationSmall steps can make talking easier.

Choose a calm moment, maybe while cooking or driving
Talk about stress, sleep or tiredness if “mental health” feels too strong
Ask a trusted relative, faith leader or family friend to help
Share a short video or article in your family’s language
Start with one person, not the whole family

Some families need time. You can get support for yourself even before everyone understands.

Strengths that carry people

Family, community, faith and culture as sources of resilience.

Asian American and Pacific Islander communities carry deep strengths. Young adults in one study said they most often turn to friends, partners and religious communities when life gets hard.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family and extended familyA wide circle of aunties, uncles, cousins and elders.

Large, close families can mean help with children, meals in hard times and a strong sense of who you are. Elders often hold stories and wisdom that help younger people feel rooted.

You can honour family values and still set healthy limits. Both are forms of care.

🙏 Faith and spiritual practiceTemples, churches, mosques and gurdwaras can be places of comfort.

Prayer, meditation, chanting and community worship can bring peace and belonging. Faith leaders are often trusted helpers.

This app has guides on Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic and Sikh faith and mental health.

🥟 Culture, food and celebrationFestivals, cooking and language keep identity alive.

Lunar New Year, Diwali, Eid, family recipes and songs in your heritage language can lift mood and connect generations. Feeling proud of your roots can protect against the sting of racism.

The Racial trauma guide has a worksheet called “My roots and pride”.

📣 Community organisingA long history of people looking out for each other.

Community centres, mutual aid groups, student clubs and advocacy groups help people find jobs, housing, interpreters and friendship. Many also run mental health workshops in community languages.

Helping others can lift your own mood, too.

🍵 Healing traditionsMany families use traditional practices alongside clinic care.

Practices passed down through families can bring comfort and meaning. It helps to tell your clinical provider about any healing practices you use, so care fits together safely.

The Traditional & folk healing guide covers how traditional healers and clinics can work together.

Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander wellbeing

Indigenous peoples with their own histories, healing and strengths.

Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are Indigenous peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa and other Pacific Islands. Their wellbeing is tied to land (ʻāina), ocean, family (ʻohana) and culture.

In 2024, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults were 60% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have received mental health treatment. In 2023, their high school students were 61% more likely to report a suicide attempt. These numbers point to a real need for care that fits.

🪨 Historical traumaWounds from colonisation can echo across generations.

Native Hawaiian youth in one study described a shared, heavy sadness (kaumaha) linked to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, loss of land, and the banning of the Hawaiian language (ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi) in schools.

They linked this history to struggles today, such as housing costs and lost access to land and ocean.

The Historical & collective trauma guide explains how a community’s wounds can travel, and how communities heal.

⚖️ Lōkahi: balanceWellbeing as balance between mind, body, spirit and world.

Researchers describe lōkahi as keeping balance among the mind, body, spirit and the world around you. They suggest this sense of balance may protect Native Hawaiian wellbeing.

In the same study, people with more resilience, such as hope and social support, reported better health.

🕊️ Hoʻoponopono: making things rightA traditional family practice for healing relationships.

Hoʻoponopono means “to make right”. It is a traditional, spiritual practice in which a trained guide (haku) leads a family meeting to bring pain into the open and restore harmony.

Papa Ola Lōkahi, the Native Hawaiian health organisation, supports kupuna (elder) councils that keep hoʻoponopono, lomilomi and other healing traditions alive.

These are living cultural practices. They are best learned from trained practitioners within the community.

🌴 Land, culture and prideReturning to culture is a path to healing.

Youth in the same study described land-based programmes, hula hālau, family support, kupuna (elders) and growing cultural pride as healing.

Ways people reconnect

Caring for land and ocean (ʻāina and kai)
Dancing hula or joining a cultural group
Learning the language
Listening to kupuna and family stories
Voyaging, fishing and farming traditions

🗺️ Many island nationsSamoan, Chamorro, Tongan, Marshallese, Fijian and more.

Pacific Islanders come from many island nations, each with its own language, faith life and customs. Hawaii has the highest share of Pacific Islander residents, followed by Alaska, Utah, Washington and Nevada.

Church and extended family are at the heart of many Pacific communities. They can be strong places to start conversations about wellbeing.

The Native & Indigenous communities guide covers shared experiences of Indigenous peoples across the U.S., including culture as healing.

War, refugee journeys and what families carry

Many families came here fleeing war. The effects can last.

Since 1975, more than a million Southeast Asian refugees have resettled in the U.S. They fled the Vietnam War, the secret wars in Laos and the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia. They carried loss, courage and hope.

A study of Cambodian adults in California who survived the Khmer Rouge era found high levels of trauma-related distress more than 20 years after they resettled. The authors said refugee communities can need support long after the danger has passed.

🤫 Silence about the pastSome elders never talk about what happened.

Silence can be a way of protecting children or surviving the pain. Children may sense something heavy without knowing its story.

The Generational trauma guide explains how family pain can pass down, and the strengths that pass down too.

🌾 Survival as strengthGetting here took enormous courage.

Refugee families rebuilt lives, businesses, temples and communities from almost nothing. That resilience is part of your inheritance, too.

Many families also kept traditions, language and faith alive through great loss.

🫶 Getting supportTrauma care can help, even decades later.

It is never too late to get support for old wounds. You can ask whether a clinic offers care in your language, or with an interpreter.

The War, conflict & displacement guide covers refugee journeys, waiting for decisions and healing after war.

Young people and the pressure to achieve

Grades, identity and growing up between cultures.

Asian American and Pacific Islander young people often carry high hopes from family, school and the wider world. Young adults in one study named parental pressure to succeed in school and careers as a top stress.

In 2023, Asian American boys in high school were 10% more likely than other U.S. boys to report a suicide attempt. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students were 61% more likely than students nationwide. Young people need to know it is safe to ask for help.

📚 When grades feel like everythingYour worth is not a test score.

Pressure to be the best can lead to burnout, poor sleep and feeling like a failure after small setbacks. Rest and fun are not wasted time.

The High-pressure students guide has ways to cope with academic stress and talk with parents about it.

🪞 Identity questions“Too Asian” in one place, “not Asian enough” in another.

Many young people feel caught between their family’s culture and their friends’ culture. Finding your own blend takes time.

The BIPOC kids, teens & families guide covers identity, school and talking about racism at home.

📱 Where young people turnFriends, online groups and anonymous options.

Young adults in one study said they rely on friends and partners, and asked for confidential hotlines and anonymous online support.

Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) and 988 (call or text) are free, private options any time.

How to support someone & how community helps

Small acts of care, in ways that respect culture.

If someone you love is struggling

Check in privately, without an audience
Use words they are comfortable with, like “stress” or “tired”
Listen more than you advise
Offer practical help: a meal, a ride, help finding a provider
Respect their pace, and keep showing up

👪 For parents and eldersYour openness can change everything.

Telling your child “you can always come to me, even if it’s about feelings” can be powerful. So can sharing a time you struggled too.

Parent education was one of the top requests young Asian Americans made in one study.

🛕 For faith and community leadersTrusted voices can break the silence.

Young adults asked for mental health outreach through schools, faith groups and community organisations.

Ideas

Host a workshop with a counsellor who speaks the community language
Keep helpline cards in community spaces
Speak about mental health in a sermon, talk or newsletter

🫂 For friends and alliesSpeak up, and don’t assume.

Don’t assume an Asian or Pacific Islander friend is “fine” or has no money or family worries. Ask, and listen.

If you see someone harassed, check on them afterward and ask what they need.

The Stigma & talking about mental health guide has tips for opening up and kinder words to use.

When and where to get help

Directories, languages, and crisis support.

Reach out to a clinical provider or therapist if…

Stress, sadness or worry is getting in the way of work, school or family
You feel numb, hopeless or on edge most days
Old memories or family pain keep coming back
You are using alcohol or other substances to cope
You have thoughts of hurting yourself

🔎 Find an Asian or Pacific Islander therapistDirectories that can help you find someone who gets it.

Asian American Psychological Association (aapaonline.org): provider directory
Asian Mental Health Collective (asianmhc.org): Asian therapists in the U.S. and Canada
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (naapimha.org): service providers for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities

Directories don’t always check licences. You can confirm a therapist’s licence with your state licensing board.

🗣️ Care in your languageYou can ask for an interpreter.

The 988 Lifeline offers interpreters by phone in more than 240 languages, at no cost. Just say the language you need.

The First-generation immigrants guide explains your right to an interpreter in health care.

❓ Questions to ask a providerIt’s OK to ask if they understand your background.

Have you worked with people from my community?
How do you include family and culture in therapy?
Can we talk about racism and identity here?
Do you offer sessions in my language, or work with interpreters?

The Finding culturally responsive care guide walks through directories, cost and what to ask.

If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (U.S.), or text HOME to 741741. If a life is in danger, call 911.

Outside the U.S.? Visit findahelpline.com to find free, confidential support in your country.

Asking for help is not a failure. It’s a way of caring for yourself and the people who love you.

📝 Worksheets for this guide

Fill these in privately in the app. Your answers stay on your phone.

My story, my rootsWrite about where you come from in your own words, and the strengths you carry.

Beyond the myth: what I really carrySet the stereotype aside and notice what you actually feel and need.

Talking with my family about how I feelPlan a gentle conversation in a way that fits your family.

Finding care that fits meNote what matters to you in a provider, and keep track of who you contact.

🔒 Fill in privately in the Mentally United Wellness App. Free, no ads, no accounts.

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Sources

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health (OMH). Mental Health and Asian Americans
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health (OMH). Mental Health Topic Guide (Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and Asian American highlights)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health (OMH). Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Health
Pew Research Center (2025). Key facts about Asians in the U.S.
Pew Research Center (2023). Asian Americans and the “model minority” stereotype
Pew Research Center (2023). Discrimination Experiences Shape Most Asian Americans’ Lives
Pew Research Center (2023). Asian Americans’ experiences with discrimination in their daily lives
KFF (2024). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health Care: Findings from the KFF Survey of Racism, Discrimination and Health
U.S. Census Bureau (2024). What Updates to OMB’s Race/Ethnicity Standards Mean for the Census Bureau
Journal of Community Health (peer-reviewed) (2009). Model Minority at Risk: Expressed Needs of Mental Health by Asian American Young Adults (Lee et al., Journal of Community Health 34(2): 144–152)
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (peer-reviewed) (2022). Ke ala i ka Mauliola: Native Hawaiian Youth Experiences with Historical Trauma (Riley et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(19): 12564)
Behavioral Medicine (peer-reviewed) (2020). A Resilience Model of Adult Native Hawaiian Health Utilizing a Newly Multi-Dimensional Scale (Antonio et al., Behavioral Medicine 46(3–4): 258–277)
Ka Wai Ola, Office of Hawaiian Affairs (2021). A Healer in Every ʻOhana
Papa Ola Lōkahi. Traditional Healing & Kupuna Councils
JAMA (peer-reviewed) (2005). Mental Health of Cambodian Refugees 2 Decades After Resettlement in the United States (Marshall et al., JAMA 294(5): 571–579)
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) (2025). SEARAC Commemorates 50 Years of Southeast Asian American Resettlement with Historic National Resolution
Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA). Asian American Psychological Association
Asian Mental Health Collective. Asian Mental Health Collective: Find a therapist
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA). AANHPI Service Providers
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) (2022). Mental Health Resources for Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 988 Frequently Asked Questions
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Is the 988 Lifeline available in other languages for non-English speakers?
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Crisis Text Line

This guide is for education and self-care. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. Please talk to a counselor or clinical provider about your health. Reviewed October 2026.

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Asian American & Pacific Islander mental health

By the numbers

Who we are

Getting care

Bias & stereotypes

Young people

Many peoples, many stories

Common terms

The “model minority” myth

Treated as a foreigner, and anti-Asian hate

What it can look like

Things that can help

Family, duty and saving face

Ideas that can help

Strengths that carry people

Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander wellbeing

Ways people reconnect

War, refugee journeys and what families carry

Young people and the pressure to achieve

How to support someone & how community helps

If someone you love is struggling

Ideas

When and where to get help

Reach out to a clinical provider or therapist if…

Directories

📝 Worksheets for this guide

Sources

Asian American & Pacific Islander mental health

📊By the numbers

Who we are

Getting care

Bias & stereotypes

Young people

🌏Many peoples, many stories

Common terms

🎭The “model minority” myth

🛑Treated as a foreigner, and anti-Asian hate

What it can look like

Things that can help

🏮Family, duty and saving face

Ideas that can help

🌱Strengths that carry people

🌊Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander wellbeing

Ways people reconnect

🧳War, refugee journeys and what families carry

🎓Young people and the pressure to achieve

🤲How to support someone & how community helps

If someone you love is struggling

Ideas

🆘When and where to get help

Reach out to a clinical provider or therapist if…

Directories

📝 Worksheets for this guide

Sources

By the numbers

Many peoples, many stories

The “model minority” myth

Treated as a foreigner, and anti-Asian hate

Family, duty and saving face

Strengths that carry people

Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander wellbeing

War, refugee journeys and what families carry

Young people and the pressure to achieve

How to support someone & how community helps

When and where to get help