Mental Health Stigma

Mental health and the need for mental health awareness has become a rising issue in society in recent years; youth health classes have started to include mental health units as part of the curriculum, and some of the stigma that comes with seeing therapists and admitting to mental health disorder has lessened. However, this is not the case with every demographic in America. In a piece titled, “Asian-Americans Tackle Mental Health Stigma,” published on WebMD, author Katherine Kam explains the wide statistical gap between Asian Americans who are in need of mental health services and those who actually force themselves to go out and utilize those services. Many demographics of Asian Americans are stereotyped as being quiet and submissive, and
The rhetorical situation of this piece is that of a dialogue that is taking place across the country, especially cities and suburbs with high concentrations of Asian Americans. 4.8 percent of the United States population is Asian, along with an additional 0.9 percent “Asian combined with other demographics,” and the Asian-American cultural group is the fastest-growing demographic in the United States. (x) However, the vast majority of Asians, especially first-generation immigrants, have difficulties with seeking help for their mental health issues due to both cultural differences and misunderstandings in the medical field as well as social stigmas regarding mental illness. The title explicitly states what the content of the article is
The author quotes Brian Gee, executive chair of the National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Association, as saying, “‘Mental health is a significant and unaddressed issue.’” Although it can be argued that this quote was said in regards to all mental health issues, the fact that the author specifies Mr. Gee’s position as the executive chair of the National APIA Panhellenic Association shows that there is an interest in this issue from Asian American organizations. The article can also be classified as informative, as it describes Asian American mental health statistics, “The Stigma of Being ‘Crazy’,” “Cultural Considerations,” and “Fighting the Shame of Mental Illness.” It informs through both numbers and personal stories, using varied types of rhetorical appeal to impact the