For the first time in my 26 years of living, I went to therapy. The mixed reactions this drew from my very traditional Vietnamese family brought me into deep reflection on the perceptions of mental health within my Asian American community. It reminded me of something I had encountered before: how cultural context can shape not just how we cope, but whether we feel allowed to speak about our struggles at all.

During undergrad, I had the opportunity to work on a clinical study examining the experiences of family caregivers for individuals living with dementia. My team and I followed caregivers over several months, listening as they shared their weekly challenges, small victories, and the emotions that surfaced along the way. It was incredibly fulfilling work, but often heartbreaking.

One of the most meaningful elements of the study was that participants were grouped by their preferred home language—English, Vietnamese, Korean, or Spanish. This allowed us to notice cultural nuances in how caregivers understood and spoke about mental health. We recruited from community organizations and doctors’ offices, and it quickly became clear that Vietnamese and Korean-speaking households were much harder to reach. Even among those who enrolled, caregivers from these groups tended to be more reserved when discussing their emotional experiences.

This hesitancy reflected something many of us already recognize: the inclination to “keep problems within the family,” the shame associated with “burdening” others, and the persistent stigma surrounding mental health struggles. What we observed in the study mirrored what we see every day in our own households and communities.

Although younger generations are becoming more open to discussing mental health and seeking support, many in our parents’ and grandparents’ generations still hold deep-rooted reservations. The why behind this has been examined time and time again, yet the question of how we move forward is still something we are collectively trying to answer.

As that question lingers without a clear resolution, the consequences of avoiding mental wellness continue to build, and the urgency remains. Especially now, as policies and systems surrounding mental health begin to shift, it is critical that we keep these conversations alive. We need culturally competent, multilingual care. We need providers who challenge the stigmas that have held on our community so long. Because when our older loved ones are finally ready to reach out, we need to ensure that the resources and support are already in place.

So for the first time in my very traditional Vietnamese family, someone went to therapy. Breaking this generational run begins with one person choosing differently. And I believe our community, rich in culture and camaraderie in the face of shared adversity, can continue choosing healing together.