Dr. Helen Hsu

National Campaign to Raise Awareness for Chinese American Communities About Mental Health

I'd say it's about time: check out the newest campaign hot off the presses so to speak from Ad Council and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration)

National Campaign to Raise Awareness for Asian American Communities About Mental Health

In more than a decade of work with clients and families from all walks of life, I have noticed that Asian American clients tend to delay seeking help for emotional and mental health symptoms - often MUCH longer than clients from other cultures.

This is not merely an inconvenience - it is dangerous.  Like any other health condition, mental health conditions worsen when left untreated, sometimes dangerously so. I have lost count of the number of times an Asian American family has told me something like "well, actually these problems have been going on for 3 years now-we didn't want to embarass him by seeking treatment, but now that it's an emergency here we are..."

The data has shown for many years that Asian American clients tend to have first contact with the mental health care system in the hospital.  Wouldn't you rather have first contact be early - when we can prevent all the harm and suffering that happens when a condition festers for years?

Counselors are available at most schools and colleges. Employee Assistance is available from many workplaces.  Your M.D. can screen and refer for support. It is smart and brave to confront our problems head on when-and prevent more severity and needless suffering.

請立即發佈

2010年7月8日

 

媒體聯絡： 

SAMHSA
媒體室                                                                    Ad Council 媒體室

240-276-2130                                                                          news@adcouncil.org

 

SAMHSA和Ad Council推廣全國性活動 

提昇美國華人社區對精神健康問題的認識

去年一年裏，每6位美國華人青年中就有1人患有嚴重的心理疾病

 

 

美國藥物濫用和精神健康服務管理局(SAMHSA)與美國公益廣告協會(Ad Council)聯手於今天宣布，他們將推廣一項全國性的公益廣告活動，教育和鼓勵年輕人勇於談論精神健康問題，促進有精神健康問題的患者康復。這些針對特定文化族群所推出的公益廣告，致力於促進社會對於精神健康問題的接受度，並減少人們對精神疾病所持有的負面態度。這些公益廣告是「全國少數族裔精神健康意識月」(National Minority Mental Health Awareness
Month)裏，一項針對華人、印地安人、西班牙裔/拉丁美裔和非裔美國人所推出的大型跨文化公益活動之一。

 

        精神疾病，包括抑鬱症、焦慮症、躁鬱症和精神分裂症等，在美國非常普遍。SAMHSA的數據顯示，從2004年到2007年，在18到25歲的美國華人中，平均有16.2%的人於過去一年中據報患有嚴重的心理疾病。儘管這個群體的發病率居高不下，卻只有九分之一 (11.2%)患有嚴重心理疾病的亞裔青年，在過去12 個月中接受了治療。總體上，少數族裔青年尋求治療的比例遠低於同齡白人的比例。

 

            「我們希望讓人們意識到精神疾病是有方法能夠有效治療的，而已經康復的人可以鼓勵有需要的人尋求幫助。」SAMHSA的行政官員Pamela S. Hyde博士表示。「這次針對華人社區所推廣的宣傳活動，將以貼近華人文化的方法來促進對話，支持有精神健康問題的朋友或家人。」

 

            這次公益廣告活動中的全新中文電臺廣告、平面廣告和網頁廣告條，由Ad Council委託亞裔廣告公司Kang & Lee製作，引導年輕人瀏覽這次活動的網站www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/Chinese 去了解精神疾病，以便尋求方法支持正在接受治療的朋友，並搜尋更多相關資料。

 

            「我們非常高興能和SAMHSA繼續合作，把推廣精神疾病康復的活動擴展到華人社區。」Ad Council的總裁兼首席執行長Peggy Conlon表示。「這個跨文化廣告宣傳活動將有助於減少人們對精神疾病的偏見，同時為年輕人提供他們所需的資源，幫助他們支持有精神健康問題的朋友。」

 

            此活動還有一本專門的小冊子，標題為「您的支持是最寶貴的禮物」。
這本小冊子能提供年輕人工具和資源，以幫助正在接受心理疾病治療的朋友。這本小冊子的電子版本可於www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/Chinese下載。

 

            「提昇華人群體對精神健康的認識是一個逾期已久的課題。」Kang & Lee 廣告公司總裁Cynthia Park表示。「為了社區的福祉和安康，重視此類倡議活動，加強對公眾的教育是非常重要的。」

 

            Ad Council和SAMHSA在2006年12月首次在全國推廣「精神健康康復」活動。請上網www.adcouncil.org 觀看相關廣告。此次的公益廣告將於媒體捐贈的廣告時段播出。

 

            SAMHSA是美國衛生及公共服務部旗下的公共健康機構，其宗旨為減少藥物濫用和精神疾病對美國社會的影響。(www.samhsa.gov)

 

            Ad Council (www.adcouncil.org)
是私營的非營利組織。該組織召集廣告界和傳媒界的人才，聚集媒體的設施，商業組織和非營利組織的資源，代表非營利機構和政府部門製作、傳播和宣傳公益活動。Ad
Council關注的問題包括提昇兒童的生活品質、預防保健、教育、社區安康、環境維護和強化家庭關係等。

           

Resilience Project Fact Sheets

There are many smart people out there who are unhappily surprised to discover that the key to happiness and resiliency in the face of life's challenges - is not being smart.

Sure, being smart, like being beautiful, confers unearned benefits through daily life.  Yet I often meet intelligent people who have huge achille's heels.  Big flaws that could sink a Titanic. Mental rigidity. Paralyzing anxiety.  Lack of empathy or other social skills.  Lack of self awareness.  Poor coping skills. Narcissism.

Such "soft" traits as cognitive flexibility, a wide range of coping skills, and optimism, can guide a person through life's rough patches in a way that sheer, dogged smarts can not.  A great deal of education research now is examining how general factors of executive functioning (like coping skills and impulse self control) maybe much better predictors of school (and life) achievement than IQ points.

An area of psychological study that has fascinated researchers and clinicians alike for ages has been this: what are the factors for human resilience?  What factors help a person bounce back from trauma or stress?  Why does one victim of abuse repeat the cycle of violence or become severely depressed and another reclaims health? Why do some combat veterans have an smoother time re-integrating into civilian life than another?

For a great overview and to learn more about assessing your own resilience- take a look at the great information from the Resilience Project.

 Resilience Project Fact Sheets

Let's Move! initiative

I trudged out of the office at 6:15 today and dragged myself, as well as my tired spouse, to our local Crossfit Gym: Crossfit One World

By 8pm - we were bouncing out of there with new energy. Will we be sore tomorrow from the work out featuring kettlebell swings, box jumps, and sprint runs? Yes. But our heads, hearts, and bodies are stronger, leaner, healthier.  No matter how many hours we work - we still prioritize exercise because health is an essential lifestyle factor that impacts every aspect of daily function.  We notice the payoff in terms of improved mood, good sleep quality, strength and endurance gains - and in the worry-free results of every blood pressure and cholesterol test.

We would rather make time to exercise now than have to make time for illness later.  I once read an article about Condaleeza Rice, who would wake at 5 am in order to exercise before starting her busy workday as Secretary of State.  Heck, if Condi Rice can find the time to work out - those of us with relatively normal jobs have no excuse!

I am grateful that I grew up in a household where the importance of caring for one's physical health was taught since I was a child.  Dessert was usually fresh fruit, and playtime consisted of running like fiends in Golden Gate park, or going to the swimming pool.  Excessively sugary or artificially colored foods and sodas were banned in our house (except for the occasional holiday party).  We were not allowed much TV time, and my parents to this day (pushing 70) create time in their lives for exercise.  I am proud of my parents for practicing Kung Fu (Dad) and dancing Zumba (Mom) with more zeal than most people half their age. 

It is easier for someone who has been taught these lessons to integrate such practices into daily life.  Yet everyone can learn new routines that will  help them feel great.  I applaud Mrs. Obama for her efforts to support families in establishing early childhood norms for lifelong health!

 

The First Lady’s Let’s Move! Child Care Initiative recognizes exceptional efforts to promote healthy lifestyles

On May 9, 2012, the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Child Care (LMCC) initiative will recognize states, communities, early childhood programs and networks for exceptional work promoting and implementing the goals of the nationwide call-to-action.

Let’s Move! Child Care focuses on five goals in early education and child care programs:

• Physical activity: Provide 1-2 hours of physical activity throughout the day, including outside play when possible.
• Screen time: No screen time for children under two years old.  For children age two and older, strive to limit screen time to no more than 30 minutes per week during child care, and work with parents and caregivers to ensure children have no more than 1-2 hours of quality screen time per day, the amount recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Food: Serve fruits or vegetables at every meal; eat meals family-style when possible, and no fried foods.
• Beverages: Provide access to water during meals and throughout the day, and do not serve sugary drinks.  For children age two and older, serve low-fat percent or non-fat milk, and no more than one 4-6 ounce serving of 100 percent juice per day.
• Infant feeding:  For mothers who want to continue breastfeeding, provide their milk to their infants and welcome them to breastfeed during the child care day; and support all new parents in their decisions about infant feeding.

“Child care providers play a critical role in the health and safety of our children,” said Linda Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Inter-departmental Liaison for Early Childhood Development. “The First Lady’s Let’s Move! Child Care initiative and child care providers are working to make sure all of our children have the opportunity to develop healthy living habits that can last a lifetime.” 

Work

"Work is love made visible."

                -----Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese American writer

A few reflections about my work as we ease into a Monday morning...

To be honest, I probably grumble about my work as much as the average Joe/Jane.  On a daily basis the mundane tasks such as reports to write, data to compile, student notes and treatment plans to evaluate, infinite meetings to attend, insurance companies to wrestle with, county policies to decipher,calls to return...these become draining. 

But every Fall, I welcome a new group of interns. My next team arrives on August 24th.  Bright, warm-hearted young people (and several quite sharp older people working on a second or third career) who are volunteering thousands of hours, paying thousands of dollars in tuition, all for the privilege of becoming a psychotherapist.  We provide them 3 hours of licensed staff supervision every single week to assist them with the myriad issues that come up with their client caseloads.

If I become too jaded to train the interns under my care, I hope I will know it's time to take a sabbatical!  Yet this has not happened.  Despite the painful stories and being company to those in the wake of trauma, grief, and illness, the work teaches me more than it takes away.

I was 16 years old when I took my first General Psychology course at De Anza College. 

Here is what I recall: the topic was so enthralling that it felt like an "easy A"-not because I'm so brilliant, but because it didn't even feel like work to study and learn.  Also, I still remember my professor (Wendell Goesling) talking about a child case.  He was an older man, and had clearly taught this intro class countless times already.  But I remember the care and interest that radiated from him when a topic really moved him.  Even at 16, I remember thinking, "hmm. I want to do something I care that much about, that will last me in the long run."

When my students ask me about life as a psychotherapist, I can answer sincerely.  I love what I do, and I am aware that that is rare among career choices.  (I do look back and think I should have studied harders and shown more discipline!) But I would not otherwise change my choices.  Do I wish therapists' were better compensated for their phenomenal graduate school debts and intense liability risks? Of course, that would be fair and ideal.

Yet more importantly, am I glad to do something meaningful and rewarding, that helps me grow in depth and wisdom every single day? Absolutely.  With every year of this work, I appreciate life more deeply.  I'm challenged by all there is to yet learn, and I love sharing what I have learned with others.  I feel like a honeybee when I attend conferences and conventions - I gather as much information and I can hold and bring it back to my hive.  I am humbled by the resilience that flowers in some of life's most unexpected crevices.  I see my role as helping people develop the skills to heal or grow that they never knew they had, and to arm them with accurate information as tools.  All within a confidential and empathic climate of course.

Being a professor and supervisor is only slightly different than being a psychotherapist.  Ultimately my interns and clients leave, moving forward in their lives.  The end of each year results in a bit of an "empty nest" at the clinic as people graduate.  The end of each therapy relationship carries a bit of sadness at parting with brave and fine people who have sought solutions and bared fears.  Many will surpass me in their accomplishments, health, and happiness - which is sure sign that my work is indeed going well.

 

 

 

Emotional Longevity

People often tell me that they are confused by the contradictory health advice that inundates today's media.  I often warn clients to listen to such advice with a discerning, if not downright skeptical ear.  Often advertisements and mainstream media will exagerate claims or base advice on anecdotes and shoddy surveys rather than quality empirical research. 

One source which summarizes for laypersons the reams of scientific journal articles out there is a book by Norman B. Anderson and P. Elizabeth Anderson.  If those names sound familiar, it may be because Elizabeth is the author of several other books, and Norman has been the CEO of the American Psychological Association since 2003.  I can't think of a more qualified duo to guide your average reader to determine what truly are the most important lifestyle changes one can make to attain emotional health and longevity.

Education Asian Style

I was thrilled to see our Asian Canadian neighbors making a serious attempt to talk with their communities about the narrow and unhealthy over-emphasis on University education & particular areas of study:

Educators encourage Asian education options

It seems obvious really.  It is statistically impossible for the vast majority of Asian young people to all be accepted into "brand name" universities.  Also impossible, that those who do get accepted, will all want to be doctors, lawyers, and engineers.
(Oh, OKay, maybe a professor or an MBA would be all right so long as the school was sufficiently fancy.)

There is little use for person in the real world whose only skills are in memorizing textbooks or code.  What about civic mindedness, empathy, self reflection, morality, intuition, creativity, independence, bravery, kindness, or charisma?

Forcing young people into ill fitting majors at ill fitting universities is more likely to lead to anxiety and depression than a lifetime of joy.  I know many parents push this so hard because they think checking off the list of educational accomplishments is some kind of guaranteed ticket to the good life.  It simply isn't so. 

I know unemployed Ivy League graduates.  I also know fantastically happy, creative, and wealthy State college or community college graduates.  I am fond of cheerfully pointing out to clients that I probably never had a 4.0 since Junior high school!  They look shocked.  I think they are shocked that I would admit such a shameful (gasp!) thing openly, but I also hope they are comprehending my point that lack of academic stardom did not keep me from finding well-paying work whichI love.  I never had a stellar GPA because I was busy. Busy with drama, dance classes, friends, volunteer work (and this was before schools required volunteer hours), hiking, traveling internationally, and working part-time.  What I lost in grade points I gained in spades in life experience. 

Many of my clients who did what they were told to all their lives have made the unpleasant discovery as young adults that they do not know now how to self-direct.  And that all their hard work and studying did not make life feel meaningful.
That maybe they should have followed their original dream of being a social worker, actor, mechanic, fireman, chef, or dancer...

Certainly some parents are understanding now the value of balancing a child's humanity with their academic achievements.  I am glad that as a community we are dialogueing about this topic.  Children are meant to be more than show ponies who are loved only if they fulfill their parents academic dreams.
And planning a child's life path from Kindergarten through graduate school for them is unhealthy.  Education, true wisdom comes from living, so let your child truly live.

Good Grief

Those of us who grew up with Charles Schultz's Peanuts characters will remember that "Good Grief!" was a phrase they often used to express exasperation.

When you think about it, like many colloquialisms, it doesn't make much sense!

In recent years, I have had all too many opportunities to be acquainted with grief, grievers, and the grieving process.  This has occurred through personal losses of friends and family, loss of life among the loved ones of my clients, colleagues, and friends, and losses within the larger communities where I work.

I do believe there is a place in out communities for grieving, and that there may not be any good losses of loved ones- but there can be a good (healthy) grief.

I really like this web page from SAHMSA summarizing the stages/tasks of grief and listing useful resources such as Compassionate Friends. 

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ken-01-0104/

We are social creatures who fare better in communities.  If a person can be acknowledged and validated as they grieve their losses, and treated with sensitivity, the process is much gentler. 

Those in crisis or grief often complain that in U.S. society there's a sort of public social pressure to smile all the time and tell everyone you are having a "good" day.  Trying to make someone's feelings go away because they make us uncomfortable is not helpful.

In helping a person in grief:

Don't

Tell them not to cry, not to be angry etc.

Launch into your own tales of woe excessively

Try to "fix" it.  Unless you can raise the dead-there is nothing you can do to make it go away.

Imagine that there is one "right" way to grieve. Let each person go through their unique process without judging

Do  

Offer, don't ask, what you can do to help.  A person in grief may be disoriented and overwhelmed. Offer practical help with taking out the trash, making phone calls, organizing food donations from friends and families, childcare, etc.

Be there with a hand to hold or a warm hug as needed

Expect that the grief may re-surge periodically as the person adjusts to the magnitude and permanence of loss

Encourage good health in the griever.  Bring healthy food, suggest therapy, take them out to walk, don't encourage substance abuse!

Assert Yourself!

There are many things to admire about Lance Armstrong. As an athlete, but more so for his contributions to cancer awareness and being a role model about beating bad odds. His Livestrong non profit continues to raise all kinds of awareness. I was pleased and a bit surprised to see a really excellent article and self awareness journal exercise on the Livestrong site that I want to share:

Livestrong - assertiveness

Facing Aging

In hindsight, I think one of the reasons I am a fairly well-adjusted person, is because I have been preparing myself to lose my looks since I was 17 years old.

Allow me to explain, this may sound strange, but my brief reign as a local teen pageant queen actually removed illusions about the importance of physical beauty.  I won my first pageant and became "Queen," yet I knew it was not because I was somehow most beautiful.  I won based on aspects such as personality (Miss Congeniality) traits and stage presence ( I did have classes in dance and drama and had been onstage before), not for being the prettiest person present.  Heck, I wasn't even the best dressed person present. 

I was one of the youngest contestants at the pageant.  I observed my mentors and peers carefully in efforts to learn from them.  I observed that good looking people were a dime a dozen, so there was simply no point in even trying to be the "fairest of them all." 

I saw incredibly beautiful women who were also often remarkably, embarrassingly shallow.  I saw the creepy way some men flock around beauty and fail to acknowledge the human being inside the shiny dress.  I saw former pageant queens who seemed unable to let go of their crowns and reigns ever after.  And I noticed many less physically lovely people who were yet funny, lovable, witty, and considerate.  I noticed that the people most enamored with my pageant face cared the least about my love of books or my political awareness.  Who was good looking, had zero correlation with who was smart, sweet, or kind.

I only joined the pageant so as to have a community event to add to my college application.  There was no expectation to win.  No expectation that I could or would spend my life modeling or any other vanity career. 

I vowed to myself that I would find a way to build a career and a life which was not dependent on exterior factors.  I could saw the evidence before my eyes that all of us will age.  All of us will sag or wrinkle.  Every year there will be yet another Queen and her court of princesses, each one prettier than the next. 

The only security one can truly enjoy in mortal life, is the content of one's character, the quality of one's relationships, and a life of meaningful purpose.  I chose an education that will serve me long into my twilight years.  I have a career supporting, and teaching, and learning, which inspires me.  I have treasured friends and family.  Do I ever wish I still fit into that sequined dress? Sure, sometimes.  But I wouldn't trade this meaning-rich life for all the Botox, gowns, and tiaras in the world.

Men have to deal with this issue as well.  Both genders suffer blows to self esteem as our metabolism slows, our hair thins, wrinkles emerge, and we aren't as flexible or strong as we used to be.  Yet if you've built up your other assets, one can accept it all and age with grace and wisdom.  There are counselors that specialize in assisting former athletes or models to adjust to normal life and build up their other traits.  The new book Face it is by a pair of such therapists:

Aging Gracefully

 

National Day of Listening 2009

National Day of Listening

As an alternate or addendum to the usual Black friday retail frenzy, I would like to suggest that we contribute to the Storycorps tradition.  As an avid NPR listener, and an enthusiast of oral histories, I exepcted to enjoy the Storycorps project.  It all began when a private recording booth was set up in Grand Central station so that dyads of people could interview one another for one hour.  What I was not quite prepared for was how powerful many of the stories aired turned out to be. 

A key point of storycorp is the emphasis on the fact that "ordinary" people have extraordinary stories, studded with humor, love, pain, wisdom...and all too often left unsaid.  While driving home and listening to the radio, I was moved to tears but the first interview I heard.  Sisters were talking about their love for one another and how they suffered and battled one sisters' self-cutting compulsion.  Since then, stories have been recorded of marriage proposals, long lost family members, veterans' tales, and so much more.

In an electronic age where my 2 and 5 year old neices spend more time with their DS or my iphone than talking with us, the value of oral history and family traditions are easily be lost.  I hope you can join in the new national tradition of listening.  As someone who listens for a living, I can attest to the fact that every listener is enriched when someone shares their history and perspective, even for just one hour.