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Breaking Barriers
Gabrielle Nguyen grew up in a traditional Vietnamese family household where her parents left many things unsaid. Like many of us who grew up in the diaspora, her parents worked hard and tried not to burden her with their struggles.
Nguyen shares her family’s story in the hopes of inspiring others to take a leap of faith—breaking barriers surrounding mental health in immigrant Asian households.
“Growing up in a Vietnamese household as a child of refugees, I did not consider mental health as something that might affect me or my family,” Nguyen says. As she transitioned into adulthood, she began to grasp the profound impact the struggles her family faced had on their mental well-being, specifically, the stresses her father felt while Nguyen was growing up.
Navigating America and Kiêu Hãnh
In the 1970s, during the Vietnam War, two million Vietnamese refugees and asylum seekers fled their homeland by boat without money or resources.
The Nguyen family ended up in the American South (Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas), which inherently led to a lot of casual racism and discrimination in workplaces and schools. Beyond social problems, they grappled with numerous personal challenges.
Nguyen’s paternal grandparents died when her father was 15 years old, shortly after they arrived in the US. As a result, her father and his siblings had to fend for themselves. This experience established the hardened persona he portrayed to the next generation in Nguyen’s childhood.
Although many people admire the Vietnamese for their perseverance and resilience, or Kiêu Hãnh (pride), it may also be a barrier to discussing mental health. As time passed, only when Nguyen reached adulthood did her father begin disclosing the trauma he endured as a refugee. She says, “I learned more about the survival mindset my father grew up with.”
A study from New Orleans, Louisiana, showed that Vietnamese community members, leaders, and providers saw mental health problems like stress and depression as temporary. The solution to overcoming these issues lies within themselves—maybe in part of Kiêu Hãnh—which creates a reluctance to talk about mental illness. “They may not believe that mental health is a real issue and choose to ignore the emotional impact of their past has on their current selves to ‘save face,'” Nguyen acknowledges.
Having open conversations
Nguyen’s father dealt with constant depressive episodes and was diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder ten years ago. Despite taking a long time to figure out what it was, through proper care, he found the right treatment, including therapy and medications.
Open conversations the Nguyens had were significant for both of them. His transparency about his mental illness empowered Nguyen to feel comfortable discussing her own anxiety and depression, which she keeps up with consistent therapy and medication. “I know this isn’t common in our community, and I’m grateful that he chose to seek care because I know that a typical Vietnamese family and parents don’t,” she says.
Rather than trying to embrace the Kiêu Hãnh and keep silent about their struggles, the Nguyens broke the cycle by being open and seeking help. “I feel lucky that I’ve been able to experience the benefits of how seeing your parents and role models being vulnerable about mental health can affect your own life and views about mental health,” she says. as she shares that she’s
With each story, like the Nguyens’, the silence surrounding mental health in the Vietnamese American community can lessen with each passing generation. Every open conversation can create a culture where discussing mental health is destigmatized and encouraged.
About Anise Health
Anise Health is a culturally-responsive mental health platform building the gold standard of care for the Asian community. Learn more about Anise Health’s clinical care model and culturally-responsive services available in California, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, and Washington or follow them at @anisehealth or on LinkedIn.
Start by completing an intake form (takes less than 10 minutes), and you’ll be matched to a recommended mental health provider within two business days. If you live elsewhere in the US, are looking for something a bit lighter touch, or run an organization that wants to partner with us, check out our group services, including psychoeducational webinars, interactive workshops, in-person activation events, peer support circles, and more!
Cold Tea Collective readers can access $50 off their first month of care by using the code CTC2024.
See also: Anise Health fills a gap in the mental health space for the Asian diaspora
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