Asian American Asian American Mental Health Mental Health

IssuesIssues(a case study)(a case study)

By Group By Group MosaicMosaicRebecca HeRebecca He

Catherine WangCatherine Wang

April KwanApril Kwan

Lily ZhangLily Zhang

Kevin ChoKevin Cho

-what happened-what happened

-what are the likely -what are the likely causescauses

-what can we do-what can we do

What had happened? On April 16, 2007, gunman On April 16, 2007, gunman

Seung-Hui Cho, an Asian Seung-Hui Cho, an Asian American, shot dead 32 people American, shot dead 32 people and injured 25 at Virginia Tech in and injured 25 at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. Afterwards this Blacksburg, VA. Afterwards this worldwide known incident rose worldwide known incident rose one particular question. Why did one particular question. Why did Seung-Hui Cho do it?Seung-Hui Cho do it?

Hunter, Melanie. "Virginia Tech Incident Called Worst Mass Shooting in US History. " Hunter, Melanie. "Virginia Tech Incident Called Worst Mass Shooting in US History. "

The NationThe Nation. 16 Apr. 2007. CNSNEWS.COM. 20 Mar. 2008 . 16 Apr. 2007. CNSNEWS.COM. 20 Mar. 2008

<http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200704/NAT20070416c.html>.<http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200704/NAT20070416c.html>.

WhWhy?y?Reasons that could Reasons that could

have provoked Seung-have provoked Seung-Hui Cho into shooting:Hui Cho into shooting:

1)1)Victim of BullyingVictim of BullyingSeung-Hui Cho was Seung-Hui Cho was

often bullied due to the fact that often bullied due to the fact that his English was not really good.his English was not really good.

2) DepressedDepressedA physician who checked A physician who checked

Seung-Hui noted that he was Seung-Hui noted that he was depressed, which might have had depressed, which might have had an effect on the killing. an effect on the killing.

3) Mutism (the inability to speak)3) Mutism (the inability to speak)Seung-Hui Cho Seung-Hui Cho

was diagnosed with mutism. He was diagnosed with mutism. He was “emotionally disturbed” was “emotionally disturbed” according to the special according to the special education program in his high education program in his high school. school.

4) Loneliness 4) Loneliness Seung-Hui Cho was so Seung-Hui Cho was so

lonely that his reputation was lonely that his reputation was ““the question markthe question mark””. He had no . He had no friends and always kept to friends and always kept to himself.himself.

Hunter, Melanie. "Virginia Tech Incident Called Worst Mass Shooting in US Hunter, Melanie. "Virginia Tech Incident Called Worst Mass Shooting in US History. " History. " The NationThe Nation. 16 Apr. 2007. CNSNEWS.COM. 20 Mar. 2008 . 16 Apr. 2007. CNSNEWS.COM. 20 Mar. 2008 <http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200704/<http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200704/NAT20070416c.html>. NAT20070416c.html>.

Pressure Felt by Asian American Pressure Felt by Asian American StudentsStudents

- Asian American students are often put - Asian American students are often put under pressure that could ultimately hurt under pressure that could ultimately hurt themthem

- For example:- For example:- Parents are always pushing them to do better - Parents are always pushing them to do better

and instead of encouraging them, putting and instead of encouraging them, putting them down for not doing betterthem down for not doing better

- Parents compare their kids to others- Parents compare their kids to others

- Peers bully them or insist on stereotypes- Peers bully them or insist on stereotypes

- Feeling the need to conform to stereotypes and - Feeling the need to conform to stereotypes and the need to do well in everything they dothe need to do well in everything they do

Other Interesting FactsOther Interesting Facts……

-Asian -Asian womenwomen ages ages 15-2415-24 have the highest have the highest suicide rate of women mainly due to suicide rate of women mainly due to pressure

-Asian Americans are less likely to seek help for their emotional or mental health problems than whites

-Kids at school put peer pressure on Asian American kids because of prejudice which causes problems with mental health.

-Second generation Asian Americans have pressure on them from parents wanting to give them a head start which creates conflict between the child and the parent. That means there will be mental health problems.

What could teachers do to prevent What could teachers do to prevent this from happening?this from happening?

-Talk to students like Cho and listen to their -Talk to students like Cho and listen to their problemsproblems

-Give hope to the student to lighten his/her spirit-Give hope to the student to lighten his/her spirit-Develop a bond and pay attention to each -Develop a bond and pay attention to each

studentstudent-Take time to understand pressure felt by -Take time to understand pressure felt by

students with different ethnic backgroundsstudents with different ethnic backgrounds-School should have a more effective counseling -School should have a more effective counseling

and support systemand support system-For example, involve the students of the -For example, involve the students of the

same ethnic group to help and support same ethnic group to help and support counselingcounseling

What can parents do?What can parents do?

-Parents should show love openly and more -Parents should show love openly and more often, which will set a good example for often, which will set a good example for kids to show their love.kids to show their love.

-Be confident, open, and optimistic even -Be confident, open, and optimistic even though they might have struggled in their though they might have struggled in their own livesown lives

-Be a good communicator, know what to -Be a good communicator, know what to say, what not to say, and how to saysay, what not to say, and how to say

-Parents-Parents should not should not compare their children compare their children to othersto others

What can students do?What can students do?

- Use own culture to provide help for others, - Use own culture to provide help for others, such as language or cultural such as language or cultural understandingunderstanding

- Cooperate with teachers to support those - Cooperate with teachers to support those in needin need

- Encourage others to join AAYS - Encourage others to join AAYS

What can you do?What can you do?

- Some ways to ease the pressure:- Some ways to ease the pressure:- Have confidence in yourself and not letting - Have confidence in yourself and not letting

other people put you down—being able to other people put you down—being able to say no when people try to make you do say no when people try to make you do things you do not want to dothings you do not want to do

- Make friends with people from other ethnic - Make friends with people from other ethnic groups. The closer you are to other groups, groups. The closer you are to other groups, the better they understand you. the better they understand you.

- Establish the fact that several stereotypes - Establish the fact that several stereotypes are NOT trueare NOT true

SummarySummaryIn this presentation, we:In this presentation, we:

- described Seung-Hui Cho’s Virginia Tech - described Seung-Hui Cho’s Virginia Tech casecase

- explained reasons that could have - explained reasons that could have provoked the shootingprovoked the shooting

- analyzed the pressure on Asian American - analyzed the pressure on Asian American studentsstudents

-made suggestions on what can be done by -made suggestions on what can be done by teachers, parents , students, and youteachers, parents , students, and you

It’s not easy to be an Asian American. But AAYS It’s not easy to be an Asian American. But AAYS provides an opportunity for all of us to think, provides an opportunity for all of us to think, discuss, plan, and act to improve the well being discuss, plan, and act to improve the well being of the new generation of Asian Americans. of the new generation of Asian Americans.

Further CommentsFurther CommentsIn this generation, Asian Americans are pushed to excel in In this generation, Asian Americans are pushed to excel in everything they do.  This often causes mental problems everything they do.  This often causes mental problems which can eventually result in inflicting physical and which can eventually result in inflicting physical and emotional pain on themselves. These mental problems are emotional pain on themselves. These mental problems are often a result of the pressures they face in the society from often a result of the pressures they face in the society from parents and peers.  These pressures can be eased if both the parents and peers.  These pressures can be eased if both the person having these problems are willing to get help, and person having these problems are willing to get help, and parents and peers are willing to accept them.  In Seung-Hui parents and peers are willing to accept them.  In Seung-Hui Cho's case, he did not get help when he needed it even Cho's case, he did not get help when he needed it even though he a supporting family and it resulted in him being though he a supporting family and it resulted in him being unable to convey his thoughts in any way but violence.  unable to convey his thoughts in any way but violence.  Parents especially need to be sure to express their love for Parents especially need to be sure to express their love for their children because in the end, no matter what, children their children because in the end, no matter what, children still think highly of their parents and what they think. As still think highly of their parents and what they think. As leaders, we should try to reach out to these kind of children leaders, we should try to reach out to these kind of children and parents to help them understand each other and and parents to help them understand each other and themselves better.  The mental health of several Asian themselves better.  The mental health of several Asian Americans is damaged by the doing of others and the lack of Americans is damaged by the doing of others and the lack of confidence in themselves.confidence in themselves.