{"id":418003,"date":"2021-01-20T13:35:19","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T18:35:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=418003"},"modified":"2021-01-20T13:35:19","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T18:35:19","slug":"new-parent-guide-helps-asian-families-address-xenophobia-racism-fueled-by-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/new-parent-guide-helps-asian-families-address-xenophobia-racism-fueled-by-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"New parent guide helps Asian families address xenophobia, racism fueled by COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nGuide created by psychologists and psychology doctoral students offers Asian parents tips on how to engage in important conversations with their children about racism; aims to lessen negative psychological impacts. The guide is available in several languages.
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Newton, Massachusetts, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — William James College<\/a>, in collaboration with the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), has created a guide for parents of adolescents of Asian descent<\/a> to support the mental health of their children at a time when the outbreak of a coronavirus pandemic has fueled a rise in discrimination, xenophobia, and bullying against Asians.<\/p>\n

Over 2,500 hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were recorded between mid-March and early August 2020, according to Stop AAPI Hate<\/a>, a national coalition aimed at addressing anti-Asian American discrimination amid the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cImmigrant parents are often not aware of the history of racism and discrimination in this country. Or they worry that bringing up difficult topics may cause additional emotional harm to their child,\u201d said Dr. Catherine Vuky<\/a>, assistant professor of clinical psychology at William James College and director of the College\u2019s Asian Mental Health Program. Dr. Vuky oversaw the creation of the guide.<\/p>\n

The guide explains why parents need to have conversations about racism with their Asian adolescent children and offers tips on how to engage in these sensitive talks in order to reduce any psychological wounding.<\/p>\n

\u201cResearch has robustly demonstrated that children’s exposure to racial microaggressions and discriminatory practices have long-lived, deeply painful psychological consequences,\u201d said Dr. Natalie Cort,<\/a> co-director of the Center for Multicultural & Global Mental Health at William James College. \u201cThe recommendations in this guide are known to be effective in combating the internalization of toxic racial hatred and bolstering cultural pride.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think children feel better, safer and more connected to their parents when parents share their own fears, confusion and uncertainty,\u201d said Dr. Vuky. \u201cThat helps connect the family and establishes a strong support system, which can lead to nurturing resilience and better mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n

A list of resources for families seeking additional information and support has been included in the guide. There is also a pair of timelines highlighting key moments of discrimination and activism in Asian American history.<\/p>\n

Available in English, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese, with a Japanese version forthcoming, the guide is a joint effort between the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Cross-Cultural Student Emotional Wellness and the Asian Mental Health Program<\/a> at William James College.<\/p>\n

As our society becomes increasingly diverse, there is a growing need to recruit and train mental health professionals who possess the knowledge and required skills to meet the mental health needs of culturally diverse individuals, families and communities. Asians are the fastest growing racial minority group in the United States but, as with other minority groups, the number of behavioral health providers with culturally responsive training hasn\u2019t kept pace. This creates significant barriers in access to and utilization of mental health services.<\/p>\n

The Asian Mental Health program at William James is the nation\u2019s first training program in clinical graduate psychology focused exclusively on Asian mental health. Asian Mental Health is offered as a concentration in the College\u2019s following academic programs:\u00a0<\/p>\n