At the recent American Chinese Conference, I had the opportunity to speak with prominent Chinese-American venture capitalist and Executive Director of The Asian American Foundation, Norman Chen. During his impactful address, he brought to light the disturbing rise of anti-Asian sentiment in our society.
Chen shared staggering statistics, revealing that in just the past four months, one-third of Asians have encountered racial discrimination, and 29% have experienced verbal harassment or abuse. Research conducted in major cities like New York and Seattle also highlights the severity of the issue, showing that one in five Asians has faced physical attacks.
During our conversation, Chen emphasized a pressing need for significant investment in data collection within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. He pointed out that a lack of reliable data has made it difficult for leaders, policymakers, and funders to truly understand and address the challenges faced by Asians. He described how the Asian American Foundation has developed a status index to track social factors impacting the community and collect data on hate incidents. “We need to understand the root causes of anti-Asian violence,” he urged, questioning why individuals would target elderly Asians without any provocation. He linked this violence to harmful stereotypes and the “othering” of Asians, which distorts public perception.
Interestingly, Chen mentioned that there has been a significant gap in serious research on societal views towards Asians for over two decades. According to the 2024 status index, many Americans believe that anti-Asian sentiment hasn’t worsened, yet the Asian community feels quite differently. “Despite a lack of coverage in the media, the sense of distress within the community is profound,” Chen remarked.
Moreover, he highlighted that Asian youth, particularly those aged 16 to 24, often feel the least accepted in American society. Alarmingly, 55% of these young individuals report feeling a lack of belonging online, and 42% feel disconnected from their local communities. In fact, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that suicide is the leading cause of death among Asians aged 18 to 24, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes that Asians are the least likely to access mental health services.
With these troubling statistics in mind, Chen stressed the critical urgency of addressing mental health issues among adolescents if the community hopes to achieve safety and prosperity. The Asian American Foundation is committed to prioritizing mental health initiatives, and later this year, they plan to launch the first nationally representative study focusing on mental health among AAPI youth. This study aims to document the community’s current mental health landscape and offers recommendations to enhance dialogue and understanding between youth, their parents, service providers, educators, and other stakeholders.
