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. Collective trauma resulting from being targeted has the community reeling and searching for answers. Equally concerning is the fact that this mental health burden is falling on the very group with the lowest rate of mental health service utilization. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) recognizes that racism and racial discrimination adversely affect mental health and is deeply committed to promoting equity in mental health for all. (APA 2018).

Under this backdrop, the APA has created this resource for journalists and reporters whose work can support the mental health needs of the AAPI community and help to address upstream factors.

APA Recommendations for
Reporters Covering the AAPI Community and
Anti-AAPI Hate and Violence (.pdf)

November 2023

This toolkit was developed by

Seeba Anam, M.D.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience
University of Chicago

Ingrid L. Chen, M.D.
Chief Resident
Kaiser Permanente Oakland

Divya K. Chhabra M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
NYU Department of Child Psychiatry
Director, Early Childhood Mental Health Services Emma Bowen Center

Nikhita Singhal, M.D.
Psychiatry Resident
University of Toronto

William Wong, M.D.
Psychiatrist, Kaiser Permanente

 

Contact [email protected] to reach these mental health experts for interviews or background