Alyssa Sun

The concept of mental health in Asian communities is often brushed under the rug and hidden behind the curtains. Moreover, those raised by Asian parents who are generally strict and impassive may find it impossible to ask for help without judgement or disapproval. This has always been a constant strain in my life. I have never been able to fully express my struggles and pain without a family member reminding me how minute and irrelevant my suffering appears to be in relevance to the rest of the world. Consequently, during my lowest times, I failed to turn to my family for help.

In the past two years, I struggled to cope with the feeling of disappointment and worthlessness. I was unable to navigate through my emotions. A voice constantly reminded me that I needed to punish myself for my failures. Self-harm became my punishing mechanism. With this in mind, I successfully overcame this barrier through an experience that I never expected to encounter. 

One night, one of the most strong-willed, enthusiastic, and encouraging women I know was recently in the hospital due to self-harm. I was in utter shock. Her life seemed so put together, and she never failed to lift anyone’s spirit. After she was released from the hospital, I made it my responsibility to always support and help her. Every day, I say small words of encouragement, hoping to brighten her day a little more. In return, the words of encouragement always reflect back to me. Helping one of the most important figures in my life has been pushing me to mentally heal. Everything I tell her, I tell myself. When I tell her to keep pushing, I tell myself to keep pushing. Though we are both still persistently battling the evil thoughts, seeing her smile and appreciate my efforts never fails to brighten my day.

The negligence regarding the importance of mental health in Asian communities prevented me from asking for help when I needed it most. However, I was fortunate enough to find my own “home remedy” that helped me battle through self-harm. Every day, I understand my worth a little more, and every day I keep telling myself to keep pushing, even through failure. I hope anyone with similar struggles will be able to get the support they need or find something that will truly change their mindset and make them happier.