Identification and Approach to Treatment of Mental Health Disorders in Asian American Populations

Abstract

This chapter will describe an approach to mental health assessment and treatment in Asian Americans, a diverse and rapidly growing group within the US population. The chapter places an emphasis on understanding concepts related to how Asian Americans may understand mental health conditions and how mental health professionals can approach this population in a culturally sensitive and curious manner. I hope this chapter will help mental health clinicians, educators, and researchers develop a thoughtful and flexible approach to evaluating and working with Asian American patients. To develop a complete understanding of the patient, the mental health professional will have to weave together the patient's unique health beliefs, culture, language, family, religion, narrative, genetics, pharmacological history, and relevant life experience. Asian Americans cannot be treated as a monolithic group and in the following pages, topics and themes will be raised that lead the professional away from viewing the patient's difficulties through only one lens. After reading this chapter, the reader will hopefully gain more knowledge about Asian American health beliefs and culture and integrate this into his or her unique style in mental health practice, education, and research to effectively help Asian American patients. This chapter concludes with three blended cases based upon my work and cases of colleagues shared with me from years of experience in working with Asian Americans. These cases will help the reader to synthesize the different topics and themes discussed in the chapter in realistic clinical scenarios. These cases will clearly demonstrate the complexity and diversity of Asian American patients and help to model an integrated approach to working with Asian Americans in a culturally sensitive manner in clinical, research, and educational settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). (chapter)