Accessing mental health resources: Asian Canadians and their experiences

This research study attempted to understand the mechanisms in which cultural values, acculturation status, and systemic barriers affected Asian Canadians attitudes towards accessing mental health resources. The sample of 134 students, staff and faculty affiliated with Douglas College were tasked with completing an online survey which consisted of three self-report measures, and questions regarding mental health related experiences. These measures assessed participants level of adherence to Asian American values, acculturation orientation, as well as their attitudes towards seeking mental health services. The multiple linear regression performed suggested that adherence to Asian American values were strongly predictive of scores on attitudes towards seeking mental health resources. The study also found that there were significant mean differences in attitudes toward seeking mental health resources, with participants who were more oriented towards Canada having higher scores compared to participants more oriented to their home culture. The study’s results are consistent with previous literature and contribute deeper insight into the reasons for which Asian Canadians may not access mental health resources. Implications of the study’s results suggest that shame and stigma, particularly from family, still contribute to the deterrents of care, in addition to being unaware of the pathways to care.