Understanding Perceptions Surrounding Mental Health/Illnesses and Treatment Implications for Asian Indian Americans

The Asian Indian population is poorly understood and studied in the United States. The members of this community are often grouped in the broader Asian category and this undermines their unique culture and health needs. Health professionals and other leaders are often times unaware of the stigma and shame associated with mental illness in the Asian Indian community and this leads to misinformation and poor services for the population. The purpose of this dissertation was to review the literature on the mental health needs of the Asian Indian population in the United States, interview various Asian Indian leaders/organizations in Chicago communities to understand the unique mental health needs of Asian Indians, and then develop a comprehensive mental health education program through which leaders in the community can facilitate discussions regarding culture and stigma surrounding mental illness, and understand the unique mental health needs of the Asian Indians in their communities.