Screens and stories: how media shapes AANHPI mental health
Art by Lada Chizhova
“The power of visibility can never be underestimated.”― Margaret Cho
Even years after the COVID lockdowns, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are still experiencing racially motivated crimes and discrimination. This has exacerbated existing mental health disparities among AANHPI communities, partly because these challenges are rooted in cultural stigmas long-associated with seeking psychological help. Fortunately, the past few years’ heightened visibility of AANHPI cultures in global media — from films to TV shows to music to books — presents a unique opportunity to influence public perceptions, address existing stigmas, and shift toward more supportive mental health paradigms.
Even with more AANHPI faces on screen, offscreen bias hasn’t exactly logged off. And mental health isn’t just a buzzword — for AANHPI youth, however subtle, it’s a survival skill.
Dr. Crystal Han of Harvard University Health Services, Counseling and Mental Health Service, told me that "Asian/Asian American Pacific Islander Native Hawaiian and Indigenous communities come from a vast array of different histories, backgrounds, and cultures. However, we are often grouped together with shared experiences of racialization, histories of exploitation, exclusion, and oppression." I’d offer that a variety of diasporas may coexist even within specific ethnic identities.
As the feminist cyborg scholar Donna Haraway observed in her 2016 book, “It matters what stories make worlds, what worlds make stories.” Stories shape how we see ourselves and each other and what we think is possible. Media isn't just entertainment — it's how we learn who we are.
From the moment Asian faces appeared on screen, media distorted “Asianness” through harmful stereotypes. These ranged from the early days of “Yellow Peril,” epitomized by the character Fu Manchu, to yellowface miscasting, martial arts mysticism, and the model minority myth. The trend continued with modern whitewashing, like the animated film Aloha and the live-action remake of Ghost in the Shell. My own childhood was filled mostly with those older representations — ones that made me, and boys who looked like me, targets for bullying.
Some stereotypes are so outdated they’ve become meme material, while others just shapeshift, from Hollywood to algorithm bias. Today’s teens might not encounter yellowface, but they still deal with erasure and subtle bias online.
At its best, popular media also plays a crucial role in validating AANHPI experiences and sparking conversations about mental health. Popular Hollywood films like Crazy Rich Asians and Minari offer nuanced portrayals of AANHPI experiences, addressing themes of family pressure, identity, belonging, and the pursuit of the “American Dream.” These narratives, alongside shows like "The Farewell," "Master of None," and "Kim's Convenience," challenge stereotypes and contribute to the destigmatization of mental health issues within these communities.
Literature also plays a significant role in shaping these discussions. Books like Interior Chinatown, Everything I Never Told You, and Pachinko dive headlong into the complex realities of AANHPI individuals, exploring themes of identity, family expectations, and the ongoing struggle for acceptance. (These titles further percolate through the culture in their television series or feature film formulations.)
The global popularity of K-dramas, K-pop, and Japanese anime further amplifies AANHPI representation, resonating with audiences worldwide. This influence will keep reshaping Western media, building deeper cross-cultural understanding.
From BTS to Studio Ghibli TikToks, the fandoms that Gen Z lives in help normalize vulnerability. Whether it’s a Parasite film analysis on YouTube or a #SadGirlKDrama playlist, young AANHPI folks are remixing representation in real time.
Social media platforms have also become powerful tools for AANHPI individuals to connect, share their stories, and advocate for mental health awareness. Hashtags like #AsianMentalHealth and online communities provide safe spaces for discussions and support. Spaces like Subtle Asian Mental Health on Facebook, or TikTok trends like #TherapyTok, show the shift.
Instagram therapy posts could be the first time some people have ever seen mental health talked about in a way that resonates with their experience. Still, the potential for misinformation and cyberbullying remains a real danger.
When I speak to AANHPI youth today, it’s clear that their media landscape, while similar in some core respects (mostly over social media and the internet), is an overgrown jungle compared to the barren shrubland of the 1980s. They’re often baffled by the old stereotypes but also sometimes find them quaint, like ancient spells that have very little power over them.
For Gen Z, the scroll is both a lifeline and a minefield: Healing and harm can happen in the same feed. Increasing representation of AANHPI narratives in various media forms continues to be instrumental in challenging historical stereotypes, fostering cultural empathy, and promoting a more inclusive society.
Memes and TikToks mocking old tropes prove how Gen Z reclaims and flips the script. It seems we’ve made some meaningful progress, as “Asian-ness” is integrated and remixed, as opposed to assimilated and weaponized.
Mental health stigma deeply affects the various AANHPI communities, impacting quality of life, access to care, and treatment outcomes. Cultural beliefs and traditions significantly shape perceptions and treatments of mental health within our communities. Culturally tailored interventions that resonate with these cultural contexts are crucial for effectively addressing mental health issues.
The media plays a pivotal role in dismantling these barriers. By fostering sensitive portrayals of mental illness that respect and integrate cultural nuances, media can promote understanding, reduce stigma, and create a more supportive environment for mental health discussions.
Dr. Han pointed out, "Important places to start include learning about the histories, migration stories, and experiences of these communities, including our histories of oppression, resistance, and survival." Media shapes fluid, intersectional identities and moves beyond traditional ethnic and cultural stereotypes. It empowers Asian Americans to narrate their own stories, reducing historical marginalization in mainstream media.
Dr. Shimkhada also co-authored a study that found major gaps in emotional support and care for older Asian American adults. Media representation can play a crucial role in advocating for equitable resources and culturally tailored mental health interventions, which helps to effectively address these disparities.
So how do we move forward?
Opportunities for positive change
Promoting Understanding and Empathy: With expert guidance from organizations like UCLA's Center for Health Policy Research, media has the power to reflect what real AANHPI life looks like. That reflection fosters understanding, breaks stereotypes, and makes space for mental health conversations. Because healing takes more than hashtags, but it helps when we’re not alone.
Encouraging Dialogue: The power of storytelling cannot be underestimated. Sharing authentic narratives can break down cultural taboos and empower people to speak up, seek support, and feel less alone. Research has shown that the simple act of telling one's story can have a therapeutic effect, contributing to the healing process. Even 15-second reels can start mental health conversations. And sometimes it’s that one duetted TikTok or late-night group chat link that gets someone to finally reach out.
Future media representation: The future looks brighter. More inclusive casting. More diverse storytellers. More shows that show people as they are. Intersectional, real, and relatable stories will lead the way and the global influence of Asian media will also keep reshaping Western storytelling. Collaborations across cultures can build connection and understanding. That’s how we get characters who feel real, not just “representative.” More Asian writers and creators means more stories told with depth, honesty, and real cultural nuance.
The use of virtual reality and interactive media can offer immersive experiences that create empathy and understanding around mental health. (Think: mental health simulations on gaming platforms or story-driven VR like Before Your Eyes.) And personalized content can help address the specific needs and interests of diverse audiences.
Visibility isn’t the end goal; belonging is. At least that’s the story I want us to include in other stories.
Sanaphay Rattanavong is a versatile writer and educator with a deep passion for arts and culture. With a diverse background in arts, culture, mental health, science communication, and technology, his work spans from journalism to fiction writing. He has received various grants and awards for his contributions to the arts and cultural discourse, including the Walker Art Center Twin Cities BIPOC Artist Grant, selected by The SEAD Project (Southeast Asian Diaspora), and the Artist's Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. He currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.
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