Dr. Helen Hsu

Vigils for Oak Creek Victims

Nationwide Vigils for Oak Creek victims

 

PLease see the link above for nationwide vigils in solidarity and honor for Oak Creek victims and the Sikh Community

 

Support for our friends and family in the Sikh community

I have just returned home late last night from an invigorating few days in Orlando for the Asian American Psychological Association and American Psychological Association conventions.  There was so much great work shared there and I have been excited to share the news with others. 

Sadly, this horrible crime against the Sikh community occurred-and now those of us who care about tolerance and community and health and safety are reeling from this inexplicable crime against a peaceful group.  There are  many Sikhs I have come in contact with in the Tri-City community here in Fremont and Union City- and they have always been family-oriented, tolerant people who have worked hard to do good in the community. 

The following is a statement from esteemed colleagues with valuable resource information. Please share widely & keep the Sikh community in your hearts and thoughts:

August 6, 2012

 

Dear Colleagues,

 As many of you may already know, there has been an attack on the Sikh Gurdwara (place of

worship) and its members in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. As members of the Sikh community, we

would like to offer helpful resources about Sikhs for counselors, psychologists, social workers,

and other helping professionals. These resources (listed below) range from websites that deliver

basic information about Sikhs to scholarship that may be used to strengthen cultural competence

in working with Sikh individuals and communities. Thank you to SAPNA and AAPA for this

quick response to this tragedy.

 

 

The basic tenets of Sikhism include belief in one God, respect for all people, including respect

for all other religions as we respect our own, service to humanity, standing against injustice, and

sharing resources with others. Sikh men and women have uncut hair and men are recognizable

by their turbans and beards. In fact, 99% of people wearing turbans in the U.S. are Sikhs. Sikh

boys wear a patka (a bandana-like head covering) before they begin wearing turbans. Some Sikh

women also wear turbans. Because of these clear visible identifiers as religious minorities, they

have been targets of both overt and covert prejudice and discrimination. A tragedy such as the

one in Oak Creek can re-traumatize individuals and underscore their vulnerability. (It is

important to note that not all Sikhs have these visible identifiers, and yet may still have

oppressive experiences).

 

 

We would also like to challenge the Islamaphobia that is often related to the hate violence Sikhs

experience. For instance, when the media reports on terrible tragedies - such as what happened

to the Oak Creek Sikh Gurdwara – reporters endeavor to distinguish those of the Sikh faith from

those of the Muslim faith ("These Sikhs were ‘mistaken’ for being Muslim."). We find the

method the media uses to distinguish Sikhs from Muslims in this manner extremely troubling, as

there is no religious community of color that is deserving of hate violence and Islamaphobia is

unacceptable in our society.

 

 

Below, we have listed websites for five national Sikh organizations that are involved in

education, advocacy, and the fight for social justice. These sites provide information on issues

that the Sikh community faces, as well as ways in which these issues are being addressed. Next,

we provide a sample list of journal articles for education and cultural competence development

with this community. As our community mourns our tragic losses, we encourage you to take

time to discuss the complexity of hate violence towards Sikh people and communities, as well as

the way Muslims, Arab Americans, and other groups of color experience microaggressions and

macroaggressions in the United States. Please see Community United Against Violence

(

http://www.cuav.org/ ) and Southern Poverty Law Center (http://www.splcenter.org/ ) for more

information on challenging hate violence in your communities.

 

 

Sat Siri Akal (a Sikh greeting),

Muninder Kaur Ahluwalia

(

muninder.ahluwalia@montclair.edu )

 

 

Anneliese A. Singh

 

asingh@uga.edu )

 Websites on the Sikh Faith:

Sikh Coalition Sikhcoalition.org

Sikhcoalition.org

 

SALDEF Saldef.org

(Sikh American Legal Defense

and Education Fund)

Saldef.org

(Sikh American Legal Defense

and Education Fund)

 

United Sikhs Unitedsikhs.org

Unitedsikhs.org

Sikhnet Sikhnet.com

Sikhnet.com

 

ENSAAF Ensaaf.org

Ensaaf.org

 

Articles about Sikh Communities and Counseling:

Ahluwalia, M. K., & Pellettiere, L. A. (2010). Sikh men post-9/11: Misidentification,

discrimination, and coping. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 1 (4), 303-314.

 

Ahluwalia, M. K., & Zaman, N. K. (2009). Counseling Muslims and Sikhs in a post-9/11 world.

In J. G. Ponterotto, M. Casas, L. A. Suzuki, and C. Alexander (Eds.), Handbook of

Multicultural Counseling (3rd ed., pp. 467-478). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

 

Kapur, P. (2010). Sharing identity through dress: The case of Sikh women. Psychological

Studies, 55(2), 101-107.

 

Mand, K. (2006). Gender, ethnicity, and social relations in the narratives of elderly Sikh men and

women. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 29(6), 1057-1071.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2004). The Sikh model of the person, suffering, and healing: Implications for

counselors. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 26(1), 33-46.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2005). A Sikh perspective on life-stress: Implications for counseling. Candaian

Journal of Counselling, 39(1), 40-51.

Asian American Journal of Psychology, 1 (4), 303-314.

 

Ahluwalia, M. K., & Zaman, N. K. (2009). Counseling Muslims and Sikhs in a post-9/11 world.

In J. G. Ponterotto, M. Casas, L. A. Suzuki, and C. Alexander (Eds.), Handbook of

Multicultural Counseling (3rd ed., pp. 467-478). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

 

Kapur, P. (2010). Sharing identity through dress: The case of Sikh women. Psychological

Studies, 55(2), 101-107.

 

Mand, K. (2006). Gender, ethnicity, and social relations in the narratives of elderly Sikh men and

women. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 29(6), 1057-1071.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2004). The Sikh model of the person, suffering, and healing: Implications for

counselors. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 26(1), 33-46.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2005). A Sikh perspective on life-stress: Implications for counseling. Candaian

Journal of Counselling, 39(1), 40-51.

 

Handbook of Multicultural Counseling (3rd ed., pp. 467-478). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

 

Kapur, P. (2010). Sharing identity through dress: The case of Sikh women. Psychological

Studies, 55(2), 101-107.

 

Mand, K. (2006). Gender, ethnicity, and social relations in the narratives of elderly Sikh men and

women. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 29(6), 1057-1071.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2004). The Sikh model of the person, suffering, and healing: Implications for

counselors. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 26(1), 33-46.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2005). A Sikh perspective on life-stress: Implications for counseling. Candaian

Journal of Counselling, 39(1), 40-51.

 

(3rd ed., pp. 467-478). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

 

Kapur, P. (2010). Sharing identity through dress: The case of Sikh women. Psychological

Studies, 55(2), 101-107.

 

Mand, K. (2006). Gender, ethnicity, and social relations in the narratives of elderly Sikh men and

women. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 29(6), 1057-1071.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2004). The Sikh model of the person, suffering, and healing: Implications for

counselors. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 26(1), 33-46.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2005). A Sikh perspective on life-stress: Implications for counseling. Candaian

Journal of Counselling, 39(1), 40-51.

 

Psychological

Studies, 55(2), 101-107.

 

Mand, K. (2006). Gender, ethnicity, and social relations in the narratives of elderly Sikh men and

women. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 29(6), 1057-1071.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2004). The Sikh model of the person, suffering, and healing: Implications for

counselors. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 26(1), 33-46.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2005). A Sikh perspective on life-stress: Implications for counseling. Candaian

Journal of Counselling, 39(1), 40-51.(2), 101-107.

 

Mand, K. (2006). Gender, ethnicity, and social relations in the narratives of elderly Sikh men and

women. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 29(6), 1057-1071.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2004). The Sikh model of the person, suffering, and healing: Implications for

counselors. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 26(1), 33-46.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2005). A Sikh perspective on life-stress: Implications for counseling. Candaian

Journal of Counselling, 39(1), 40-51.

 

Ethnic and Racial Studies, 29(6), 1057-1071.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2004). The Sikh model of the person, suffering, and healing: Implications for

counselors. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 26(1), 33-46.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2005). A Sikh perspective on life-stress: Implications for counseling. Candaian

Journal of Counselling, 39(1), 40-51.

 

International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 26(1), 33-46.

 

Sandhu, J. S. (2005). A Sikh perspective on life-stress: Implications for counseling. Candaian

Journal of Counselling, 39(1), 40-51.

Candaian

Journal of Counselling, 39(1), 40-51.

(1), 40-51.

 

Additional Resources:

The American Counseling Association has Disaster Resources for Counselors listed at the

following link:

http://www.counseling.org/sub/dmh/resources.aspx

 

 The American Psychological Association Disaster Response Network updated their consumer

website, the Psychology Help Center (

"Managing Your Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting." Below are some additional mass

shooting resources that they provided.

 

APA - Psychology Help Center:

• Managing Your Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting

• Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of school shootings

 Red Cross:

• "Red Cross Support Colorado Community After Tragic Shooting"

http://rdcrss.org/PkaGkW

 

 

• Taking Care of Your Emotional Health After a Disaster

http://www.redcross.org/wwwfiles/

 

Documents/pdf/Preparedness/checklists/EmotionalHealth.pdf

 NYU Child Study Center:

• School Shootings: Helping Teens Cope– A Guide for Parents. Institute for Trauma and

Resilience

http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/school_shootings_helping_teens_cope_guide_paren

 

 

CNN:

• "Five Tips for Talking with Kids about Scary News"

 

 

SAMHSA:

• Disaster Distress Helpline

http://disasterdistress.samhsa.gov/

 

 

 

 

PTSD Research Quarterly:

• Impact of Mass Shootings on Survivors, Families and Communities

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/newsletters/research-quarterly/V18N3.pdf

 

 

Please feel free to contact either Muninder or Anneliese if you need any additional information.

We have attached a pdf of this for easier reading.

 

--

 

Muninder Kaur Ahluwalia, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Montclair State University

Department of Counseling and Educational Leadership

Montclair, NJ 07043

(973) 655-7622 (office)

(973) 655-7662 (fax)

muninder.ahluwalia@montclair.edu

 

 

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。

           

Bochan: Local Khmer- American pride & Music

Review of Bochan video

Friday August 5th, 2011 I will be presenting at the American Psychological Association on the topic of inter-generational trauma for Cambodian American Women. 

It is a topic that Dr. Kayoko Yokoyama (of JFK Univ. Pleasant Hill) submitted to APA because of how deeply moved we were by the resiliencies of our Cambodian American women clients. 

We had both taken it upon ourselves to read and learn more about the history of Cambodia, and about the immigration and refugee journeys of survivors so we could better comprehend the larger history of our clients' families.

Yet it's impossible to comprehend a genocide that murdered 2 million innocent people, and plunged survivors into starvation and terror.  All we can hope for, is to learn from past horrors and mistakes.  As mental health providers, we hope to learn how to support those who have been through the unthinkable, and who live and love others who have survived.

Our hope is for them to not only survive, but learn to thrive again.  I wanted to share the Bochan video for several reasons:

• Bochan has a beautiful voice and graceful presence

• She's a young local artist - Yay, Oakland!
• She completely embodies the message of Khmer American pride 
• The video is beautiful and portrays both the pain and the resiliency of her community
• and disclaimer- I know Bochan personally, I had the privilege of being her supervisor when she was working to help Oakland youth empower themselves. She is truly a kind hearted person who inspires positivity in the Cambodian American community.

 

Support for locals impacted by Japanese Quake & Tsunami

The footage and stories coming forth from Japan are heartbreaking and nearly impossible to comprehend.  Long after the headlines are gone and the media have moved on, the people impacted by disasters are still rebuilding and healing.  I hope we will all keep our Japanese brothers and sisters in our hearts, minds and actions for years to come.

In the meantime, resources are being made available to assist with the immediate crises.  One SF Bay Area local therapist has organized free support groups in Japanese for those impacted by the disasters.

THANKS to Yuko Ninomiya!!!

INFORMATION on FREE SUPPORT GROUP in April:

The impact of these natural disasters and subsequent nuclear crisis have been overwhelming. 

The monster quake and tsunami hit Northeastern Japan on March 11 and there have been so many casualties.  

This support group is for Japanese-speaking people in San Francisco Bay Area to talk about their sense of sadness, fear and loss in a safe environment. 

Some may have lost family members, relatives or friends. Many may have been heart-broken by watching unimaginable disasters in their homeland. 

The goal of this support group is for participants to regain a sense of safety and strength.

This group will be offered for 5 weeks and conducted in Japanese. 

This is an open group so that people can join whenever they need support.

Dates : April 2 to April 30  Every Saturday 10:30 ~ 11:30 am

Location：2409A Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

                     （near California Pacific Medical Center and Japan Town）

Facilitator：Yuko Ninomiya, MA    Email: yukoninomiya@yahoo.com

                       　　　　      　                Phone:　４１５−６８２−４５２５

Privilege in summary

One very progressive aspect of higher education these days, is that awareness is taught about the concept of privilege.  White privilege, male privilege, economic privilege...basically the messy mix of perks which are doled out in unequal measure, based upon unearned status.

For a beautifully written (and sort of the classic) paper on racial privilege:

white privilege

For those who don't feel up to reading much, here's the summary or what my spouse would refer to as the "cliff notes" version:

Privilege, in this sociological and cultural use of the term-refers to the rights and bonuses certain people get that others don't.

Those who have these privileges, usually hate admitting it, because it contradicts their self protective delusion that everything they have is from a meritocracy.  It lets them off the hook for doing anything to remedy social injustices.

How much privilege a person has, or lacks, impacts how much effort is exerted in daily living.  Does one saunter carefree through their average day? Or does one have to go out of their way to make others comfortable, or to plot the safest way home, or to defy stereotypes and strain to show their competencies?  Does one feel validated most of the time by their surroundings, colleagues, media, peers?

Privilege comes from complex cultural phenomena and the interplay of social roles.  For example, I lack male privilege since I am not a male, and I lack white privileges since I'm clearly not white.  However, I have unearned privileges due to my status as an educated person who speaks English without an accent and is often mistaken for a Model Minority.

So unlike some fellow citizens, I can fairly easily shop without being harassed, get friendly service from financial institutions, walk into swanky businesses undisturbed, and  am generally assumed to be a fairly nice person even by those who do not know me.

I can not however, see my Asian American culture validated regularly in the media, I can not move about as freely as I would like (for example I can't run solo on the same trails my male friends do as a precaution to safety).

So that's what we're talking about in academia, in social justice, in the streets when we ask you to be thoughtful about privilege.

Even "positive" stereotypes are wrong

Many students and friends have wondered if I would write about Amy Chua the so called Tiger mother whose inflammatory "Why Chinese Mothers are Superior" essay set off an avalanche of controversy in the Wall Street Journal.

All I have to say is that one can pretty much read my past blog entries i.e. "Helicoper parents" and "Education Asian style", to know where I stand on the browbeating school of parenting.  Yes, I agree a parent should push their kids hard and spend lots of time overseeing homework and enrichment.  But I feel one can do so without resorting to a single minded pursuit that denies a child all semblance of autonomy and emotional curiosity/freedom.

It's harmful to all Asians and Asian Americans when stereotypes are flung wildly about like in this article.  The seemingly positive "Model Minority" stereotype denies each of us our individuality.

And it tries to lump Chinese with Burmese, Cambodians, Vietnamese, Thai, Taiwanese, Lao, Hmong, Japanese, Koreans etc...Amy Chua does not speak for all Asian moms, not even all Chinese mom, nor Chinese American moms.  The larger powers that be love the model minority myth because it upholds the falsehood that we live in a true meritocracy.  That anyone could have "perfect" kids like Amy Chua if they simply worked as hard as those zealous Chinese mom.  It simply isn't true.  Other Asians live in poverty or may not speak English or may have learning disabilities or war trauma, or any other number of different strengths and weaknesses. Most humans on earth, (to say the least of most Asians!) do not have the educational, health, housing, and financial benefits of someone like Amy Chua.

PLease take a read at the below statement to be released by the Asian American Psychological Association:

Asian American Stereotypes

Two instances of stereotypes of Asian Americans have recently surfaced in the media.
One involved media coverage of the book, Battle hymn of the tiger mother by Yale Law School Professor Amy Chua. The media coverage of Chua’s book focused on Chinese American parents
who are strict, critical, and emphasize their children’s academic success. A Wall Street Journal essay by Chua on the book is entitled, “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”.

The second stereotype involved the exclusion of Asian Americans by the National Research Council (NRC) in their rankings of the diversity of doctoral programs. Non-Asian ethnic minority students, women, and international faculty and students were included in the rankings. The implication is that the achievements and characteristics of Asian Americans are on par with those of European Americans and for this reason, Asian Americans do not bring diversity to doctoral programs.

These instances that highlight academic success are stereotypic because not all Asian Americans fit these stereotypes. However, it could be argued in both cases that the stereotypes are positive and not harmful. Academic success, whether it be among children or among students and faculty in doctoral programs, is laudable. Nevertheless, harsh parenting is not uniformly effective, and may create undue pressure and have harmful psychological consequences. A harmful effect of the apparent success of Asian Americans in higher education is invisibility in the NRC data. However, many Asian Americans have unique cultures and experiences that enhance the diversity of institutions as much as the cultures and experiences of any other minority group.

Seemingly positive stereotypes of Asian Americans as academically successful also have not resulted in acceptance into mainstream American society. Research by psychologists Thierry Devos and Mahzarin Banaji suggests that Asian Americans are viewed as less American than members of other ethnic groups in the U.S. Academic success does not immunize Asian Americans from the discrimination that targets all ethnic minority groups in the U.S.

Discrimination toward Asian Americans ranges from microaggressions such as the question “where are you from?” to institutional discrimination, such as systematic exclusion from leadership positions based on perceptions of culturally-based personality characteristics of inscrutability and passivity.

Moreover, Asian American academic success may be perceived as threatening and some would contend that Asian Americans should not receive special attention because this would constitute an unfair advantage.

Stereotypes of any group are inherently inaccurate because they try to shoehorn all members of the group being stereotyped into a single conception while ignoring the wide diversity within the group. Moreover, some stereotypes are simply wrong and are perpetuated by the majority group in order to bias perception of the targeted group. Asians in the U.S. are from at least 30 different national and cultural backgrounds and there also is much individual diversity within any Asian American group. There certainly are unique, positive characteristics of Asian American cultures that may enhance well-being, including academic achievement.

However, an exclusive focus on the academic achievements of Asian Americans has rendered them invisible at times, threatening at other times, and overlooks their needs as a minority group. Indeed,there are many Asian Americans that fit the exact opposite of the academic success stereotype,with many struggling academically and living in poverty.

The Asian American Psychological Association encourages a balanced consideration of both the strengths and needs of the over 15 million diverse people of Asian ancestry in the U.S.

FYI to read what all the fuss is about:

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.

Hungry Ka Na Ba?

On November 13, 2010 Asian Health Services and Filipino Advocates for Justice held Hungry Ka Na Ba? at St Anne's Church of Union City.  Unlike many dull fundraising/educational events, this one featured something everyone loves: food! 

The theme of the event was about cultural foods we love, and how to enjoy them in ways that maintain health.

A 2009 filipino community health needs assessment survey conducted in Union City indicated many areas of concern such as:

• 50% of respondents were in the overweight to obese range of body mass - the highest BMI of any Asian American group
• Nearly a third of respondents (28%) reported hypertension (high blood pressure)
• 75% of respondents ate at fast food restaurants weekly, and two thirds at fast food up to three times per week
• 11% of respondents had been diagnosed with diabetes, and another 6% were pre-diabetic
• Filipino adolescents have the highest lifetime asthma rates of all Asian Americans (23.3%)
• Respondents favored sedentary activities, and preferred low impact exercise with minimal cardiovascular benefits
• 40% of favorite foods identified by respondents featured meat as the main ingredient
• Respondents reported a hypercholesterolemia rate of 24%, with 21% of those aged 25-39 already suffering from high cholesterol

(for more information on the Filipino Advocacy and Organizing for Health study, which also addresses TB and health care access contact www.filipinos4justice.org)

So- how to address these issues constructively? 

No one wants the food police nagging over every bite.  I myself often joke that I am "culturally incapable" of dieting.  My culture values the art of cooking and the joys of food centered socializing to the extreme.  Yet I have found that one can have both an enjoyable healthy lifestyle as well as delicious food.  Eating well and regularly exercising in a way of life in my household.  That way, when it's time to indulge in a treat or special occasion, we can do so guilt and worry-free.

Hungry Ka Na? showcased healthier versions of traditional foods.  The recipes were modified to contain more fresh vegetables, leaner cuts of meat, no refined sugars or transfats, no artificial flavorings, and an emphasis on local and organic ingredients.

Lucky guests like myself chowed down on Mexipino Kilawin (ceviche), Mungo, Menudo, eggplant bistek, tuna pan de sal and more.  Here I visit with Jen Lee & John Fong from Asian Health Services

My favorites were the Sotanghon noodle and veggie soup by Penny Baldado of Cafe Gabriela in Oakland (she was a winner in the food voting), and of course: Desserts!! Buko Pandan (jell-o and coconut w lychee-cutting the condensed milk and sugar did not negatively impact the yummy treat) by Elvie Jose and Baked Cassava sprinkled with toasted coconut from the Cruz/Libaste family.

Chef Dominic Ainza, a former youth counselor, and current chef at Mercury Lounge in San francisco provided a celebrity guest appearance to demonstrate several dishes made with local purchases sourced that very morning from the Union City Farmer's Market.  He talked about the importance of health, and how his three daughters serve as an inspiration for him to take better care of his own health habits on a regular basis.  Die hard foodies will recognize and be impressed by the restaurants Dominic has cooked at, which include Poleng Lounge and Betelnut in SF.

Thanks to Asian Health Services & Washington Hospital for sponsoring such a tasty and fun event to remind  us all that health is wealth and does not neccesitate culinary deprivation!  Thanks to Filipino Advocates for Justice and their incredible volunteers for conducting the local health survey and continuing to work on food justice and health promotion education.

Suicide and Asian Americans

"My Story" Depression, Suicide, and Asian American Women

I was recently perusing the website 8Asians.com and came across a personal essay addressing the high rates of untreated mental health illnesses in our communities. 

The author June Shieh does an intensely honest job sharing her experience of how stigma and lack of education can manifest in tragedy.  She is also an example of the resilience of those who weather life's storms. 

A worthwhile read, and encourage more of us to speak up and speak out to spare others from their undiagnosed and/or untreated illnesses, and to share our own stories.