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The mental health of Filipino Americans is emotional and cognitive status of Americans of Filipino descent. Filipino-Americans utilize mental health services less than some Asian-American groups. [1]
In a 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young Filipino women were more likely to have suicide ideation than most minorities. Paradoxically, however, there are lower rates of committing suicide among Filipinos than Caucasians or other Asian groups. [2] Lower rates of suicide in Filipino-Americans are attributed to the influence of Catholicism in Filipino culture and the availability of social support from extended family. [2]
Depending on other identity markers such as sexuality and age, certain Filipino-American groups are estimated to have more or less depression rates than their Chinese-Americans counterparts. [3] In cases where Filipino-Americans report higher rates of depressive symptoms than other Asians, this could be because Chinese-Americans and other East Asian groups who experience depression are less likely to medically report their illness due to cultural stigma; further, these groups are more likely to seek non-Western treatment outside of hospitals, which further skews the statistics on their mental health reports. [4] [5] [6]
According to the findings of a study by Napholz and Wenbin, Filipina-American working women who have an equal commitment to work and relationships report having less depression, higher self-esteem, higher life satisfaction, and lesser levels of role conflict than women who are committed to either work or relationships. [7]
In a study in Cebu, Philippines, it found that the multigenerational living arrangements of Midlife Filipina women in relation to their family, affects their mental health. [8] For example, living in a larger household reported a higher score of depressive symptoms in mid-life Filipina women, due to stress brought on by caregiving duties and loss of privacy and control. [8] Co-residency of adult females with their older parents, affect their mental health based on the power dynamics and their role in the family. For example, the mental and physical health of a younger adult female in the family may suffer if she is at the bottom of the hierarchy, compared to that of an older adult female in the family who may have more power and respect. [8] Having life transitions, such as losing a spouse, resulted in increasing depressive symptoms; and intergenerational co-residency, for example, transitioning from having grandchildren to no longer living with grandchildren, resulted in decreasing depressive symptoms. [8]
Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrants are less likely, than any other minority group, to seek mental health care and treatment because of stigma attributed to shaming the family, self-reliance, and being reserved. [7]
Support groups and religious networks are agencies that Filipina immigrants use to alleviate the stress of adapting in another country. [9] Providing psychoeducation and having culturally competent mental health providers are what would be helpful in the context of mental health treatment, as well as more studies and research on Filipina's role commitment and interventions, are necessary. [7]
The after-effects of colonialism (American colonization of the Philippines from 1898 to 1946) still influence some Filipino-American immigrants. [10] [11] One large effect of American colonialism on Filipino-Americans' mental health is colonial mentality. [12] Studies show that Asian Americans have more serious disorders and have more prolonged stays at mental institutions than Caucasians. [13] Out of all Asian American groups, Filipino Americans have the highest rate of stays at mental institutions. [13]
Immigration is associated with mental illness in Filipinos. Filipino immigrants take part in fewer mental health services than other Americans. Filipino Americans were once immigrants. [14] Filipinos are one of the largest groups of Asian-American immigrants. About 1.66 million Filipinos are immigrants. [15] Some Filipino immigrants do not apply for programs such as Medicaid because they are worried that it would reduce their chances of becoming citizens. [16] Filipino immigrants can also face racial discrimination, which is associated with depression and increased substance use. [17]
Asian American immigrants are diagnosed with depression for various factors, such as not understanding English or inability to take health exams. [14] The Filipino American Community Epidemiological Study (FACES) examined situations that may cause mental illness in Filipino immigrants. Employment worries increase stress, which can cause mental illness. [15] Males who do not know English well enough are more prone to mental illness than English speakers. Female immigrants were more likely to have long-term disorders. Males are more susceptible to disorders that lead them to depend on alcohol and drugs. [18]
Hiya, a Tagalog word defined as "a sense of shame, loss of face, or embarrassment," plays a role in Filipino-Americans' use of mental health services. Hiya plays a negative role in Filipinos' ability to seek help from mental health professionals. [1] [2] The fear of bringing shame to oneself and the family can prevent Filipinos from seeking professional mental health aid. [1] Hiya can also cause Filipinos to seek anonymous, online mental health help instead of in-person professional help. [1]
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Several models have been constructed to characterize the Filipino-American experience. These theories include the Identity Development Model, colonial mentality and the Model Minority Myth. [19]
Filipino Americans experience racial and ethnic identity development in a different way, than other Asian American groups. The Philippines was colonized by Spain for over 300 years, and came to partially identify itself with Spain. [19] However, Filipino Americans also identify with Asian and/or Pacific Islanders, leaving Filipino Americans with the possibility of multiple (or compound) racial and ethnic identities. The identity development model contains six stages that Filipino Americans may experience as they develop their identity. These stages include: ethnic awareness, assimilation to American culture, awareness of socio-political differences, Panethnic Asian American consciousness, ethnocentric realization and introspection or acceptance. [19]
Ethnic awareness develops when an individual becomes aware of the culture associated with their ethnicity. This includes language, social activities, food, music and traditions. Typically this stage arrives during childhood. [19] During the assimilation stage, the individual notices the differences between her ethnic culture and other cultures and assimilates with one or more such cultures. Typically this is some flavor of American culture. [19] American values and traits are typically presented as preferable or even superior. For example, skin-whitening and bleaching products are promoted as a way to become more attractive. [10]
During the "Awareness of Social/Political Differences" stage, Filipino Americans become actively aware of traits that separate them from other cultures, often sensitized by racial and cultural injustices. Differences can be interpreted positively (e.g., by coming to appreciate Filipino culture) or negatively (via experiencing racism). [19]
The "Panethnic Asian-American Consciousness" stage occurs when individuals begin to associate with individuals of other Asian American groups and learn that such groups have much in common with them. [19]
The "Ethnocentric Identity and Introspection" stage is the rejection of a broader Asian American identity and in favor or a specific Filipino identity. [19]
The final Introspection stage is the acceptance of their other identities (e.g., as an Asian) without rejecting their Filipino heritage. [19]
Colonial mentality is a form of internalized oppression in which an individual feels inferior because his heritage includes the experience of colonization. This mentality makes individuals feel the need to associate more towards American and/or Spanish values and traditions rather than their own, perceiving their colonizer to be superior. [19]
Cultural identity crisis may also reinforce colonial mentality through Filipino-Americans experiencing confusion on what encompasses authentic Filipino identity and culture. [20] This leads many Filipino-Americans to believe there is no truly authentic Filipino culture and that Filipinos are consequently inferior to Whiteness. [20]
Colonial mentality has been shown to impact the psychological well-being of Filipino Americans. Those strongly affected are more likely to have low self-esteem and could develop symptoms of depression more often than others. [19] Colonial mentality impacts self-esteem and weakens ethnic identity, which can negatively impact mental health. [12] [21] The four levels of impact on an individual: self-denigration, lack of appreciation of Filipino culture, discrimination against less-cultured individuals, and tolerance and acceptance of oppression by non-Filipinos.
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Model minority is a stereotypical assumption that members of a particular ethnic group excel in areas of behavior and education. [22] Stereotypes that apply specifically to Filipino Americans include: low divorce rate, propensity to speak English better than other Asian Americans and lower poverty rate among Asian Americans. [19] Stereotypes of Filipino Americans include academic and career success among women and young adults. [23]
Model minority stereotypes pressure Filipino Americans to live up to their image. Students have been seen to question whether or not they are actually Asian if they are unable to match the stereotype. [23] This affects the self-esteem of individuals.[ citation needed ]
A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness, a mental health condition, or a psychiatric disability, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. A mental disorder is also characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior, often in a social context. Such disturbances may occur as single episodes, may be persistent, or may be relapsing–remitting. There are many different types of mental disorders, with signs and symptoms that vary widely between specific disorders. A mental disorder is one aspect of mental health.
Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a mood disorder experienced after childbirth, which can affect men and women. Symptoms may include extreme sadness, low energy, anxiety, crying episodes, irritability, and changes in sleeping or eating patterns. PPD can also negatively affect the newborn child.
A colonial mentality is an internalized ethnic, linguistic, or cultural inferiority complex felt by people as a result of colonization, i.e. being colonized by another people and gaslit into assimilation based on the belief that the language and culture of the colonizer are inherently superior to one's own. The term has been used by postcolonial scholars to discuss the transgenerational effects of colonialism present in former colonies following decolonization. It is commonly used as an operational concept for framing ideological domination in historical colonial experiences. In psychology, colonial mentality has been used to explain instances of collective depression, anxiety, and other widespread mental health issues in populations that have experienced colonization.
Gender is correlated with the prevalence of certain mental disorders, including depression, anxiety and somatic complaints. For example, women are more likely to be diagnosed with major depression, while men are more likely to be diagnosed with substance abuse and antisocial personality disorder. There are no marked gender differences in the diagnosis rates of disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Men are at risk to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to past violent experiences such as accidents, wars and witnessing death, and women are diagnosed with PTSD at higher rates due to experiences with sexual assault, rape and child sexual abuse. Nonbinary or genderqueer identification describes people who do not identify as either male or female. People who identify as nonbinary or gender queer show increased risk for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. People who identify as transgender demonstrate increased risk for depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Internalized racism is a form of internalized oppression, defined by sociologist Karen D. Pyke as the "internalization of racial oppression by the racially subordinated." In her study The Psychology of Racism, Robin Nicole Johnson emphasizes that internalized racism involves both "conscious and unconscious acceptance of a racial hierarchy in which a presumed superior race are consistently ranked above other races. These definitions encompass a wide range of instances, including, but not limited to, belief in negative stereotypes, adaptations to cultural standards, and thinking that supports the status quo.
Mental distress or psychological distress encompasses the symptoms and experiences of a person's internal life that are commonly held to be troubling, confusing or out of the ordinary. Mental distress can potentially lead to a change of behavior, affect a person's emotions in a negative way, and affect their relationships with the people around them.
Panethnicity is a political neologism used to group various ethnic groups together based on their related cultural origins; geographic, linguistic, religious, or 'racial' similarities are often used alone or in combination to draw panethnic boundaries. The term panethnic was used extensively during mid-twentieth century anti-colonial/national liberation movements. In the United States, Yen Le Espiritu popularized the term and coined the nominal term panethnicity in reference to Asian Americans, a racial category composed of disparate peoples having in common only their origin in the continent of Asia.
Major depressive disorder, often simply referred to as depression, is a mental disorder characterized by prolonged unhappiness or irritability. It is accompanied by a constellation of somatic and cognitive signs and symptoms such as fatigue, apathy, sleep problems, loss of appetite, loss of engagement, low self-regard/worthlessness, difficulty concentrating or indecisiveness, or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
Research shows many health disparities among different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Different outcomes in mental and physical health exist between all U.S. Census-recognized racial groups, but these differences stem from different historical and current factors, including genetics, socioeconomic factors, and racism. Research has demonstrated that numerous health care professionals show implicit bias in the way that they treat patients. Certain diseases have a higher prevalence among specific racial groups, and life expectancy also varies across groups.
The epidemiology of depression has been studied across the world. Depression is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, as the epidemiology has shown. Lifetime prevalence estimates vary widely, from 3% in Japan to 17% in India. Epidemiological data shows higher rates of depression in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the United States than in other regions and countries. For most countries among the 10 studied, the number of people who experience depression during their lifetimes falls within an 8–12% range.
Asian Americans have historically been perceived as a "model minority", experiencing few health problems relative to other minority groups. Research within the past 20 years, however, has shown that Asian Americans are at high risk for hepatitis B, liver cancer, tuberculosis, and lung cancer, among other conditions. Asian American health disparities have only gained focus in the past 10 years, with policy initiatives geared towards promoting healthcare access to Asian Americans rising to prominence even later. Asian Americans are defined as Americans of Asian ancestry and constitute nearly 5% of American's population as of 2003, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet, the Asian American population can hardly be described as homogenous. The term applies to members of over 25 groups that have been classified as a single group because of similar appearances, cultural values, and common ethnic backgrounds. The Asian Americans commonly studied have been limited primarily to individuals of Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Mien, or Vietnamese descent.
Mental health in the Philippines is a survey of the status of psychological, psychiatric, and emotional health care in the Philippines from both past and present programs.
Culture defines how people view the world and certain phenomena. Culture also appears to influence the way people experience depression. An individual's experience with depression can vary from country to country. For example, a qualitative study revealed that some countries did not recognize post-natal depression as an illness; rather, it was viewed as a state of unhappiness that did not require any health interventions.
The Filipino American identity comprises principles from both the Philippines and the United States. Although the meaning of identity differs from one individual to another, the fundamental factors are the same. History, genetics, socio-economic status, culture, and education are all indirect factors that influences the identity of an ethnic group; thus, they are also reflective of a group's health beliefs and practices.
Mental health inequality refers to the differences in the quality, access, and health care different communities and populations receive for mental health services. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that 350 million people are affected with depressive disorders. Mental health can be defined as an individual's well-being and/or the absence of clinically defined mental illness. Inequalities that can occur in mental healthcare may include mental health status, access to and quality of care, and mental health outcomes, which may differ across populations of different race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex, gender, socioeconomic statuses, education level, and geographic location. Social determinants of health, more specifically the social determinants of mental health, that can influence an individual's susceptibility to developing mental disorders and illnesses include, but are not limited to, economic status, education level, demographics, geographic location and genetics.
The immigrant paradox in the United States is an observation that recent immigrants often outperform more established immigrants and non-immigrants on a number of health-, education-, and conduct- or crime-related outcomes, despite the numerous barriers they face to successful social integration.
Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Asian Americans is a growing topic related to trauma and racial psychology that requires more attention and research.
Concern about the mental health of Asian Americans has been raised as the Asian population in the United States is rising. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, the leading cause of death among Asian Americans aged 15–24 is suicide. Asian Americans tend to underutilize resources, especially those that are not deemed culturally competent. Studies suggest that Asian American patients tend to ignore the emotional symptoms of mental illness and only report physical ones to doctors, resulting in misdiagnosis.
The social determinants of mental health (SDOMH) are societal problems that disrupt mental health, increase risk of mental illness among certain groups, and worsen outcomes for individuals with mental illnesses. Much like the social determinants of health (SDOH), SDOMH include the non-medical factors that play a role in the likelihood and severity of health outcomes, such as income levels, education attainment, access to housing, and social inclusion. Disparities in mental health outcomes are a result of a multitude of factors and social determinants, including fixed characteristics on an individual level – such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation – and environmental factors that stem from social and economic inequalities – such as inadequate access to proper food, housing, and transportation, and exposure to pollution.
People who are LGBT are significantly more likely than those who are not to experience depression, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder.