Media Advisory: APA Releases New Recommendations for Reporters Covering the AAPI Community and Anti-AAPI Hate and Violence
WHAT: The unprecedented rise in anti-AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) hate incidents and crimes that began during the COVID pandemic has taken a heavy mental health toll on the AAPI community — high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma-related symptoms have been reported.
The American Psychiatric Association has created a new resource for journalists and reporters whose work can support the mental health needs of the AAPI community and help to address upstream factors involved in anti-AAPI hate such as hate-inspiring rhetoric and media misrepresentations.
WHO: The document is intended for all reporters, producers and editors covering beats that touch the lives of the AAPI community.
The resource was created by a working group of APA member psychiatrists with expertise in the mental health of the AAPI community, who are available for interview and/or training or consultation upon request. They are Seeba Anam, M.D., Ingrid L. Chen, M.D., Divya K. Chhabra M.D., Nikhita Singhal, M.D., and William Wong, M.D. The resource was reviewed by working journalists and includes many references to pertinent data and outside sources.
Working journalists are encouraged to share the resource and APA at [email protected] to reach the authors and other experts on AAPI mental health.
American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 38,000 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.