A recent survey reveals alarming trends in mental health disparities among Asian Americans in California. According to the 2023 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Asian adults experienced a significant increase in severe social impairment due to emotional issues, rising from 7.2% in 2019 to 8.9% in 2023.
This trend is part of a broader pattern of health inequities affecting various racial and ethnic groups across the state. While the overall proportion of adults reporting serious psychological distress was returning to pre-pandemic levels, this improvement was not consistent across all demographics.
The survey also highlighted disparities in housing discrimination, with 2.5% of Asian adults reporting such experiences in the last two years. This figure, while concerning, was notably lower than the 9.4% reported by Black or African American adults, underscoring the complex landscape of racial inequities in California.
Ninez Ponce, principal investigator of CHIS and director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, emphasized the importance of these findings: “CHIS data can serve as a critical resource to figure out which groups’ needs are not being met by current policies and programs.”
The comprehensive survey, which included responses from over 21,000 adults, also revealed that 24.7% of adult respondents reported needing help for emotional/mental health or substance abuse issues in the past year, up from 20.9% in 2020. This increase in mental health needs across the board highlights the growing importance of accessible mental health services for all Californians, including the Asian American community.
See “Health inequities abound in California, according to newest California Health Interview Survey” (October 13, 2024)
