Ethnicity and Health in America Series

The Office of Ethnic Minority Affair’s (OEMA) Ethnicity and Health in America Series is designed to raise public awareness concerning the varied health concerns of America’s people of color, while highlighting the impact of psychology and psychological factors on these health concerns. OEMA will focus on a chronic health condition particularly relevant to the ethnic group honored during four key months:

• Black History Month in February, 

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, 

• National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month in September, and 

• National American Indian Heritage Month in November

In addition to facts, statistics and resources posted on the web, OEMA will also host a variety of activities to educate the public regarding the significance of psychology to health. Through these efforts, OEMA hopes to support and encourage psychologists to take a leading role in combating these burgeoning disparities.

Prevalence rates of mental illness among Asian American/Pacific Islanders are believed to be no different from those of other Americans. However, the type of psychopathology, ethnicity and generational status, acculturation and cultural background all appear to influence the manifestation of psychological distress among Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders (Iwamasa, 2003, p.8).

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, OEMA is highlighting mental health issues among Asian immigrant parents and children in an effort to reduce the stigma associated with mental health concerns in these communities.