Silent Struggles: Unveiling The Mental Health of South Asian American Emigrant Women

South Asian women emigrants in the United States face noticeably distinct problems related to mental health. Not only are they impacted at higher rates as compared to other populations in the country, but their living circumstances lead them to experience mental health issues differently. Their South Asian heritage and differing cultural norms from native-born Americans contribute to acculturation stress, familial pressure, and personal stigma. Meanwhile, due to sex-related biological brain anatomy differences as well as lived experiences in a historically patriarchal world, their gender identity makes them more prone to mental health disorders. Finally, their status as emigrants contributes to further instability in their lives and vulnerability to discrimination, two other factors that often negatively influence mental health. Statistics and studies show their high susceptibility to mental illness likely stems from the intersectionality—the overlapping and interdependent impacts—of their identity traits. As a result, this research emphasizes the importance of individually focusing on minority and marginalized populations when considering mental health and respective treatments.