Demand for Mental Health Care Rising in Asian American Communities as More Speak Openly of Struggles

Healthcare attorney Melissa Wong was quoted in an article for The Boston Globe about the rising demand for mental healthcare in Asian American communities amid COVID-19 and the wave of anti-Asian violence that followed. To meet the need, Boston organizations serving Asian American communities created culturally sensitive mental health programming with professionally trained staff. As chair of the Massachusetts Asian + Pacific Islanders for Health's board of directors, Ms. Wong discussed how the organization has promoted activities and discussions on social media to reach more youth and alleviate feelings of isolation. 

“I can’t imagine it’s easy for individuals to come out and be open [about mental health], but it’s absolutely critical, especially people who are well-respected or well-known in the community, like Constance Wu...There’s an entitlement issue, that we’re not allowed to want more, and we all have to be happy with what we have...That’s wrong, and we need to be able to be vocal about it," Ms. Wong emphasized. 

READ: Demand for Mental Health Care Rising in Asian American Communities as More Speak Openly of Struggles