Chinese Americans’ Help Seeking for Emotional Distress

This study examines help‐seeking behaviors for emotional distress among 1,747 Chinese Americans. Seventy‐five percent of respondents did not seek any help, but among those who did, informal help was most solicited, followed by alternative help. Only 15 percent of individuals with a mental disorder sought mental health services. Sociodemographics, acculturation, and personality traits significantly predict help seeking. Acculturation increases general respondents’ tendency to seek mental health and informal help but reduces the tendency of respondents with a diagnosable psychiatric disorder to seek help. Individuals are also inclined to seek help if they view challenges as a normal part of life.