EAGG Meets Angel Wang

Angel Wang, left, speaking at Speaking at the Asian Hustle Network Uplifted Conference in Vegas with our clinical director

You have been working for Anise Health which focuses on culturally-informed mental health for the Asian community. What are the gaps in traditional mental health services that you have identified?

So many! While there are several concerning gaps, the primary issues on the “supply-side” of mental healthcare delivery include provider shortages, language barriers, lack of affordability, overmedication, and inflexibility with the standard of care.

Simultaneously, there is resistance from our community itself, including stigma, misunderstanding, fear and stereotypes of bringing “shame” and “dishonour” upon the family for seeking support.

The results are devastating. Suicide is the leading cause of death for Asian Americans between 15-24 years old (Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Minority Health). Asian individuals are 2x less likely to seek mental healthcare and 50% more likely to drop out of care than non-Asian peers (NLAS study).

Even before reaching higher criticality levels of acute need, there are ways in which existing systems often fail the Asian community. Many of us who have tried to find a therapist for very normal things (like school, work, anxiety, dating, friendships etc) have left not feeling heard or understood by their providers; this can be because the modality of therapy isn’t culturally-informed. Providers might use harsh language around “setting boundaries” which can sound like a betrayal of loyalty or something that violates core values of filial piety. That’s why Anise focuses on making therapy more culturally-responsive.

Facilitating a conference for college students at New York University

What misconceptions about Asian mental health have you encountered in your partnerships and community-building work?

Leading a mental health workshop with the Ascend Foundation

Speaking at the Asian Hustle Network Uplifted Conference in Vegas with our clinical director

Facilitating a panel for college students at New York University (NYU)

Myth: “My family will disown me if I go to therapy.”

One thing that has pleasantly surprised me during my community outreach is the number of people who've shared that their family have been supportive of them seeking mental healthcare. Even my own parents have come to understand and embrace the benefits of emotional fitness. Admittedly, every family is different and not all parents/caregivers are enthusiastic at first, but it’s helpful to add nuance to the stereotypes we hear about all families being resistant to any form of mental healthcare.

Myth: “You are crazy or weak for going to therapy”

Mental health is not mental illness. You do not need to be in crisis to speak to a therapist or coach… that’d be like waiting for a heart attack before you start exercising. When I encounter people who naturally devalue the importance of therapy, I usually explain that therapy is often like a form of education, such as emotional literacy and self-development, which is just as important as academic excellence or other types of healthcare (medicine, fitness, nutrition). Plus, I do see attitudes changing among younger generations, which is a great shift!

Myth: “Finding an Asian provider is good enough for me to get better”

Finding a therapist who looks like you is a great way to build a connection, but evidence-based research shows that this factor isn’t enough to drive clinical outcomes on its own. In fact, the specific training that the clinician received to provide culturally-informed care to patients is very important too. For those who need some help on selecting the right provider, check out this article I wrote about how to choose a therapist as an Asian person.

Leading a mental health workshop with the Ascend Foundation

What innovations in mental healthcare technology are you most excited about right now?

There are many developments that I’m interested in learning more about, but haven’t fully formed opinions on. For example, there’s a whole field of technology around transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) which is a non-invasive, drug-free treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain areas associated with depression. Similarly, digital therapeutics prescribe software as medicine to help things like ADHD and anxiety, and even psychedelic-assisted therapy is developing in North America for severe trauma. That said, I’m not a clinician and so I’d be very curious about the clinical efficacy of these interventions. I also think it’s important to use measurement-based care when pioneering new types of treatment and mental health technology

You have set roots down in very different places throughout your life. What are the threads that have kept you feeling grounded and connected when moving across these very different geographical and cultural areas?

That’s a good point! I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and then did college in New York City. I then lived in Austin, Boston, and San Francisco and have travelled to 60+ countries. Most recently, I was doing long distance between Tanzania and California (long story…) so I have been in very different places throughout my life.

Among all these geographics, the constant is my own body, so many of my “self-care” rituals are somatic. I try to get back to the basics like exercising regularly, eating semi-healthy (I can’t help but eat chocolate and snacks though!) and calling my family / friends. More specifically, I listen very regularly to podcasts, which help me feel connected to current affairs (and, by extension, the world at large) when I travel.

My family and friends mean a lot to me, so I also try to make time to see them regularly no matter where I am in the world.

Angel Wang and her brother

East Asian Girl Gang is all about shared cultural and ethnic heritage. What does it mean to you and why did you join?

Identity is shaped by those around us, not only in our present but also in our past. Connecting with my heritage means participating in traditions (with my own personal and modern twist) that help me celebrate my identity authentically and enables me to feel connected with my ancestors. This can mean hosting people for tea, delicious home-cooked Asian food, and playing traditional Chinese music. It also means engaging in continuous questioning and curiosity, exploring and re-defining what it means to be an Asian-American woman living in Europe… not adopting labels that others expect me to carry, but carrying my sense-of-self in a way that feels genuine to me. It’s evolving!

As a newly minted London girl, what makes you smile?

Dogs everywhere! In pubs, in stores, running freely in parks :) So many mini moments make me smile… the neat and thoughtful escalator etiquette, hearing so many diverse languages on the street, seeing the beautiful long trench coats in the winter, and watching with fascination as the city swarms with football fans on game day. On a deeper level, I like that people here tend to have more work-life balance and more global curiosity.

What are your top tips for anyone who is thinking of ‘crossing the pond’?

Be patient. The experience of living abroad is very humbling and rewarding. Enjoying the benefits also does require a bit of effort, so be gentle on yourself if it takes a while to settle in. The EAGG community truly has helped me in my transition!

I’d love to meet up with individuals in the group, so please use the contact form to connect with me to hang out!