Attacks against Asian Americans are on the rise. Here's what you can do
Posted on Mar 05 2021
CNN
For many in the AAPI community, just leaving home requires a new routine and a mental shift that prioritizes survival. It's coupled with a subtle fear, wondering if they or a loved one will become the next victim. While Covid-19 may be raising the xenophobic flames right now, racism against Asian Americans is not new. Dr. Doris Chang and her team are currently studying the Asian American experience during the pandemic in combination with the protests over George Floyd's murder. Their goal is to ultimately promote alliances and solidarity with Black Lives Matter and immigrants' rights groups. But her initial findings reveal disturbing figures for her own community. In her survey of nearly 700 Asian Americans across the country, 16% reported being deliberately coughed or spat on. And 24% reported workplace discrimination while 14% said they had been barred from an establishment like a shop. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, members of the AAPI community are the least likely to seek help of any racial group. In 2019, the organization claims, only 23.3% of AAPI adults with mental illness were receiving treatment. To help raise awareness about mental health offerings for AAPI individuals, NAMI has listed a number of resources specifically designed for Asian Americans.