Over the years, the support I received from faculty, family, and friends is what motivated me to even want to pursue a doctoral degree and become a mental health researcher.” – Michael Huynh, MPH These differences among subgroups exemplify the various factors, such as diverse experiences and cultural backgrounds, that may be impacting mental health. Of those reporting psychological distress and unmet mental health needs, Korean, Japanese, and Cambodian were the highest. The researchers’ findings showed that the odds of psychological distress were increased among adults who were female, trans, non-binary, aged 18-44 years, US-born, Cambodian, multiracial, and low income. “The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to anti-Asian hate crimes, which contributed to even greater stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges within the community.” “Asian Americans may be experiencing mental health challenges for a variety of reasons, including family obligations, economic hardships, and racial discrimination,” said Huynh. In his recent co-authored study published in the Public Health Reports, Huynh analyzed the prevalence of psychological distress and unmet mental health needs among Asian/Asian American adults during the COVID-19 pandemic across various sociodemographic subgroups. Michael Huynh, MPH, a doctoral student at UCI Public Health, is dedicating his research to unmasking hidden issues around mental health among Asian American subgroups. People are now more likely than ever to seek help for mental health issues and speak openly about their experiences with mental illness, resulting in increased awareness and understanding of mental health.īut for the Asian American community, mental health is not being embraced with open arms compared to other racial/ethnic groups. This conversational shift has helped to reduce the stigma that has been historically associated with mental illness. In the last 5 to 10 years, there has been a greater willingness to talk openly about mental health. Pictured here at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting and Exposition in 2021 with Jay Mantuhac (MPH alumni), Michael Huynh and Nancy Mai (MPH alumni)

Family Obligations by Vivien Dean