South Asians face mental health challenges that are uniquely shaped by cultural, historical, and familial issues. While topics such as therapy and mental health are still stigmatized and dismissed as Western concepts, many individuals within the South Asian community struggle to seek out help due to a combination of factors. These include social stigma, familial expectations and pressures, economic disparities, medical racism, historical religious beliefs, and the pathologization of cultural traditions and values.
While it’s important to note that the stigma of seeking treatment can be present in any population, the complexities surrounding these barriers are especially prevalent amongst the South Asian community. This can stem from the cultural notion of shame, which can lead to denial and resistance of care. This may also be the result of cultural beliefs about the causes and signs of illness, which can result in a delay of diagnosis or misdiagnosis.
In addition, many first-generation South Asian immigrants often feel a sense of guilt in asking for support, which is exacerbated by the question that Hasan Minhaj brilliantly explored in his 2019 series Homecoming king, “Log Kya Kahenge?”—What will people think? Individuals who are fearful of what their family or communities will say can avoid getting the help they need, which can have long-term negative impacts on their mental and emotional health.
Working with a South Asian Counseling Specialist can help destigmatize these issues and allow individuals to find the support they need without feeling as though they’re failing their families, cultural heritage, or tradition. While it’s true that a South Asian therapist can’t completely understand every aspect of the nuances of each culture, they can still utilize their education and professional training to guide clients through these complex issues and provide them with tools that are helpful to them personally and professionally.
One of the most common reasons that individuals seek out a South Asian counselor is to get support for intergenerational trauma. These burdens can be a result of unhelpful cultural norms and values that are passed down from one generation to the next, and these traumas can have lasting impacts on the mental and emotional well-being of women in particular. Having a safe space to discuss these experiences and explore tools for managing and minimizing unhelpful traditions can allow women to find peace and self-compassion.
Additionally, many people who are struggling with issues related to intergenerational trauma and cultural norms and values can find comfort in a South Asian therapist, as they will likely have similar experiences. This allows them to better understand what the client is going through, and can be a way to validate their experience. For instance, if they’re experiencing feelings of emotional blackmail, social comparison, fear, and guilt, the therapist can explain how these emotions are related to their own experiences as a result of these cultural norms and values, and offer them strategies to move forward.