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Mental Health Discussion with Anna Hoss
By: Lisa Gu
Lisa Gu (LG): Hi Anna, thank you for speaking with me today about growing up in Asian-American communities, and particularly about mental health and how it is addressed and viewed. You are Filipina - what experience did you have with mental health in the Filipino community?
Anna Hoss (AH): We didn’t talk about mental health. Nobody even knew what that was. Nobody knew what anxiety or depression was.
LG: It was the exact same for me. In my experience growing up in the Chinese community, many people are extremely reluctant to talk about mental health issues. In general, they don’t like to talk about it; on the extreme end they don’t acknowledge that these issues exist. I was talking with another East Asian friend and she mentioned that, because keeping a good “face” is emphasized, there’s a lot of concern about what others will think of them. How was it addressed within your family?
AH: If it was talked about [within my family], it typically meant that you were crazy or there was something wrong with you. I suffer from anxiety and depression. It’s almost like, nowadays, who doesn’t? I’m definitely not there with my family yet, where I can have an open conversation [with all family members.] At least, with my cousins, we’re all really good about talking about mental health and what’s been going on. When it comes to our aunts and uncles, it’s starting to get a little bit better.
LG: I’ve noticed a strong generational shift as well. The same friend who talked about keeping a good “face” said that there’s not a strong understanding among the Boomer-age generation on what “mental health” is, or why it would be worth expending money for assistance. She has an aunt that has mental health issues that prevents her from working. Some of the family members around her think that she is lazy and that she has it good since she doesn’t have to work. What are you seeing?
AH: You and I discussed how even in Western culture it hasn’t been acknowledged until recently. It’s so wild to see the new generation [of kids] at school, they are so open with each other and nothing is a big deal anymore.
LG: Is this from school or a cultural shift?
AH: I think it’s a cultural shift but school definitely plays a part. My kids learn about it from mom and dad, because [my husband] and I work hard to work on ourselves. I never talked about it with my parents. I was an immigrant, moved when I was 6 months old.
LG: You have been very open with your mental health struggles and have even started a podcast on that topic. What made you decide to share your experience so publicly, in the podcast and here with me?
AH: Yes, I started a podcast on mental health for people of our generation that is directed towards people who grew up in the hood or around gangsters because I realized that, after going through [my] mental health stuff, how many people don’t have access to mental health care. After talking with my friends and family, I realized how bad everyone’s mental health was. I have ADHD and trauma and not everybody understood my trauma responses. I felt like none of my family and friends understood. [The podcast] is my baby, I love doing it. Everyone that I love is included – my daughter, my best friend. I put every single piece of me into this little documentary of my brain and the people that I love.
LG: What are your suggestions for additional awareness or education for Asian communities regarding mental health, particularly older generations who may not have been raised or born in the US? My friend brought up that there's a strong language barrier for those that have emigrated over and ideally there would be more resources advertised in native languages.
AH: My friend who is also on the podcast says that the only thing that we can do is talk about it, [regardless of whether the family] are on board or not. Talking to your family is the biggest thing, and then listening and being open to what they have to say and normalizing their feelings. The podcast is my [way of communicating]. Yes, it is cathartic. It helps people understand the gravity of mental health and what other people are going through. I have seen other women being so brave and telling me what they have gone through as well. I was just doing this for my close family and friends so that we can be closer, but I realized there are other women, guy friends who need this. I just [want to connect] people.
LG: It sounds like you have come through your experience with a very different perspective.
AH: I notice my friends are getting so good at taking care of themselves and I think it’s such a beautiful thing. It’s a much better way if you don’t feel alone. I think that’s really important, that your feelings are validated. Your experience itself is validated.
*You can listen to Anna’s podcast “Crying in my Van” on Spotify. The August 3 episode is a discussion with Dr. Jyoti Mishra, UCSD Associate Professor of Psychiatry, on brain mapping and engineering new technologies for mental health care.
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