Perinatal mental health concerns affect as many as 20% of US women. Among Asian-American moms, ingrained cultural values can be an impediment to both diagnosis and treatment. In this episode of Mind Dive Podcast, hosts Bob Boland, MD and Kerry Horrell, PhD welcome two colleagues from The Menninger Clinic, psychologists who focus on women’s mental health and the particular needs of perinatal women in the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
Nausheen Noor, PhD became passionate about women’s mental health as a community provider in Karachi, Pakistan, working with women struggling with domestic violence, depression and traumatic stress. She is also a strong advocate for mental health and wellness in the AAPI community, working to address lingering stigmas. The podcast also features Rose Yang, PsyD, the adult division coordinator and faculty leader for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The Menninger Clinic. Dr. Yang became invested in AAPI mental health in her early career, but her own subsequent experiences as a mom led her to explore maternal mental health challenges and attendant cultural issues in the Asian-American community. She is a certified perinatal mental health provider.
While it may be helpful at times to consider AAPI individuals as a community and to acknowledge intersecting experiences, Drs. Noor and Yang emphasize that it is critical to also recognize that the community is not a monolith, and is comprised of people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Dr. Yang notes that the “model minority” stereotype—a 1960’s era term coined in a news article about Japanese American success—has been problematic, as it minimizes the struggles of many AAPI sub-groups, both ethnic and experiential (e.g., refugees). The panel also discusses the impact of the COVID pandemic as a stressor in the AAPI community, as it both catalyzed anti-Asian hate crimes and contributed to “lumping” all Asians together without regard for the rich breadth of their heritages.
Drs. Noor and Yang discuss the meaning of perinatal health—perinatal covers the period before, during and after pregnancy—and the factors that can lead to mental health challenges. While pregnancy can exacerbate pre-existing psychological vulnerabilities, other factors are contributors as well, including hormonal and psychosocial changes and disrupted sleep. Dr. Noor notes that fertility challenges and treatment can also contribute to feelings of stress and depression. Among Asian-American women, cultural and familial norms and differing levels of acculturation can discourage these moms from acknowledging and/or speaking about the feelings they are experiencing and from seeking help.
The solution? Drs. Noor and Yang emphasize the critical importance of timely, frequent and culturally sensitive screening by a variety of health practitioners—at Ob/Gyn and Pediatrician visits, and also by lactation counselors, midwives and doulas. Because this is a time that their focus is on care for the baby, women may be missing out on themselves; multiple check-in points may help to identify mental health concerns early on. They note that the Ame
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