Being Asian with a different sexual orientation

When I told my parents I was queer at age 14, I hardly knew of any other gay/lesbian/transgender/queer people. I knew of the Top Twins and Ellen DeGeneres, and I'm sure some other "rumoured to be gay", famous musicians or actors, but those were all TV and movie people. I didn't know of any queers in real life. I certainly didn't know of any queer Asian people.

Sixteen years later, having done some queer youth work and community development work, I know a good bunch of queer Asian people, and from discussing our sexualities and genders, it seems there are sometimes tensions between who we are as Asian people, and our sexualities and genders.   

While many Asian families are supportive of whomever their children, parents, grandchildren and cousins are, many gay, lesbian, transgender and queer Asians struggle with sharing our sexuality and gender, with our families.  

Some of this is the feared prejudice that might come from heterosexual family members, and some is fearing that we will bring shame to our families. There might also be the fear of rejection and conflict. 

For some queer Asian people, it is not such a big deal that our families don't know about our sexual orientation or gender identity. It may be that these topics are just not talked about in the culture of our families, even if we were straight!   

Whatever the reason, not feeling like we can, or want to tell our families about our sexual orientation or gender identity, has some kind of impact on the depth of relationships with our families, and our relationships and family ties can become weaker and thinner because of this.

There are many organisations and resources that are useful if you are gay, lesbian, transgender or queer. And also useful even if you arent, so that you can support someone close to you like a grandparent, child, grandchild, cousin or sibling.

Rainbow Youth and Outline are good places to start for information and resources.

Guest blogger – name withheld

Real value in working together

By Ivan Yeo, Mental Health Promoter, Like Minds, Like Mine

Many people ask me what Like Minds, Like Mine mental health promoters do. The answer is that, while our work is extremely varied, much of it involves running health promotion workshops in the community on subjects like how to identify and combat discrimination.

Another major part of the role is networking and finding opportunities for organisations to work together and support consumers and each other’s development.

As an example, just a few months ago, the Problem Gambling Foundation Asian Services (PGF), East Health Trust, Yan Oi Sei and Bo Ai She (Chinese consumer support groups), Counties Manukau District Health Board’s Asian Mental Health Unit (Te Rawhiti) and the Mental Health Foundation met to discuss how we can better support Chinese people with experience of mental illness (or consumers) in East Auckland.

As the result of the meeting, it was decided that Bo Ai She would run a Chinese language wellness recovery action plan* training session for Chinese consumers and family members. The training was completed at the beginning of June.

Each group had a different part to play in making this happen: PGF and the Mental Health Foundation initiated the meeting and East Health Trust provided the venue. Bo Ai She and the district health board supplied facilitators and training materials. Yan Oi Sei is providing ongoing family support to the participants as well as working to recruit more Chinese consumers.

Through this collaborative effort, the training was a fantastic success and was covered in the Chinese newspaper, The United Chinese Press.

As a mental health promoter, I find it heartening to be involved in a process that brings together a number of organisations with the aim of working together towards a stronger community.

This is just one of many examples of the work done by the Foundation’s 15 mental health promoters to make a positive difference to the mental health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

*A wellness recovery action plan, also known as WRAP, is used by people with experience of mental health problems to increase their wellbeing and resilience. They work on their own, or with support from a peer, to devise a plan that suits their circumstances by monitoring, reducing and eliminating uncomfortable physical symptoms and emotional feelings. The plan incorporates information on developing a support system, using peer counselling, creative activities, journaling, diet, exercise, relaxation and getting a good night’s sleep. WRAP was developed  by Mary Ellen Copeland

Chinese New Year brings new set of challenges

Chinese New Year is upon us and it’s tradition for Chinese people to return home to celebrate the spring festival. Each family prepares a New Year’s Eve dinner where everyone gets together in order to show they will have a family reunion next year. 

But in recent years, more and more young Chinese people who work in large cities far away from their home town dread returning home for spring festival. They’re called the home-anxious clan. 

So why don’t they want to go home?

Well, many migrant workers have to spend more money on getting home than in the past. High-speed trains are being put into service this year, and the tickets cost three times as much. It’s harder to get cheaper tickets since there are fewer normal trains in service.

Young Chinese people feel very awkward when they return home without something to make their parents proud of, such as a good job. They know their parents will be much happier if they bring home a future mate – they dread their parents nagging them about getting married. They even think of renting partners just for going home only - some people really do this!

Even though Chinese New Year is one of the most family-oriented holidays of the Chinese lunar calendar, many young people are fearful of going home for it because of the huge expenses involved; the family reunion causes a lot of anxiety for them.

It is customary to give a “red envelope” – a monetary gift given on special holidays. They have to give their parents money, and there’s also a fear of owing other people favours because they will be invited out to eat.

Parents simply want to enjoy seeing their child

Since 1980, married couples in China are only allowed by law to have one child. These families have the difficulty of deciding whose hometown they are going to return to for spring festival. This causes arguments, some of which even lead to divorce.

So, many home-anxious clans decide to stay in the city and celebrate Chinese New Year without the company of their family members, wondering if they can go home next year. Although some young people might not think so, it may be China’s most important time for a family gathering.

Charlie Tang, Mental Health Promoter, Mental Health Foundaiton

First ever community mental health care centre opens in China

As a Kai Xin Xing Dong (Chinese Like Minds Programme) project worker, and coming from mainland China, I take a keen interest in what happens in China’s mental health service.

The first community mental health care centre started this year in Beijing. Community mental health centres play an important role between hospital and home, and a mental health system that links all three levels throughout the whole country gives people with experience of mental illness the best support in recovery.

The opening of this first centre is a very encouraging sign, but China’s mental health service still has plenty of room for improvement.

50% of China’s population knows nothing about mental health

Statistics released in early 2009 show there are over one hundred million people with mental health issues in China, and among them over 16 million people have experienced serious mental illness.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), suicide in China accounts for about a quarter of suicides worldwide, and our work tells us that undiagnosed and untreated depression is still the biggest risk factor for suicide. Yet more than 50% of China’s population knows nothing about mental health, and even fewer understand how to access the mental health services.
 
In China it is believed that people with experience of mental illness become ‘crazy’ or ‘foolish’ and they will never recover. Some people still think that people with experience of mental illness cause big safety issues. The recent spate of violent attacks in Chinese schools, which left dozens of children dead or injured, was attributed, by many, to mental illness.

China needs mental health act

These beliefs reflect the discriminatory attitude towards people with experience of mental illness in mainland China. Yet people can and do make a full recovery and this is why China needs a mental health act.

Mental health legislation was first drafted in China in the 1980s, with the aim to provide legal protection and subsidized health care to those with experience of mental illness. If passed, the legislation would give patients without family support access to free shelter and treatment provided by the government.

However, this would require a large amount of funds and, so far, only a few prosperous provinces and cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, have drafted regional regulations on mental health, leaving patients to depend largely on families for both financial and psychological help.

For now, we have to take heart that the first community mental health centre has opened and hope it will be the first step towards improving China’s services for people with experience of mental health issues.

Charlie (Sheng) Tang, Mental Health Promoter, Like Minds

Stigma & discrimination in Korean community - what we can do to help

As a Like Minds, Like Mine project worker of Chinese descent I work closely with the Asian community.

The Like Minds project is eager to spread the message among ethnic communities that it is important to provide an inclusive environment to all Asian people who experience mental illness. 

To this end, a Korean Advisory group is now running under Kai Xin Xing Dong (the Chinese Like Minds Project). Its aim is to explore the issues of stigma and discrimination associated with Korean people who experience mental illness in the Auckland region.

I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to work with well-respected Korean health professionals who share many of our concerns. Stigma and discrimination present barriers to the health and recovery of Korean people.

We do not want this situation to be ignored any longer - action is required urgently. 

Losing face a big issue for Korean people

Very often families keep mental illness a secret because of the fear of ‘losing face’, which is common in Korean communities.

Korean communities perceive mental illness as an ailment that can be caught from others, resulting in feelings of guilt and shame of being unable to protect their loved ones from getting well. Often people suffer in silence in order to not to bring shame to their family.

The New Zealand Korean community is relatively small and has close connections to local church groups.  In order to find solutions, they tend to go back to Korea to seek psychiatric interventions. However this can be a huge financial burden on the whole family.

In one extreme scenario, a family moved back to Korea because a family member had been seen by a crisis team on their own property. This was thought to bring stigma to the whole family.

Cultural competence training a must

The situation could have been avoided had the crisis team been trained on cultural competencies around the issue of stigma and discrimination associated with Korean people who experience mental illness.

Another issue is Korean people tending to minimise their mental health issues when being assessed, because Korean culture does not encourage emotional expression in public.

Unfortunately, many professionals do not have cultural competence training to be able to recognise the implications of such behaviour.

The recent incident of a Korean father who was found dead before his wife and daughter’s funeral, speaks to the truth about how hiding mental distress needs to be addressed urgently.

It is an issue all society needs to look at to find ways to better support migrants to settle in New Zealand.

Furthermore, professionals should be given relevant information and resources to assist in their understanding of what is needed from them in their treatment of Asian patients.

Kai Xin Xing Dong website to include Korean information

The KXXD website will soon include Korean information and resources in English to encourage professionals to share information and knowledge with Korean people who experience mental illness.

Perhaps you have some ideas, too, to help us alleviate these concerns?

Ivan Yeo, Mental Health Promoter, Like Minds

Leslie Ding - Chinese doctor who became a role model for his community

While working on an event for the Kai Xin Xing Dong Project in Christchurch, Vaea Hutchen, mental health promoter, discovered the story of an inspiring individual

When I was working on the Kai Xin Xing Dong Project, Simon Tam, my Chinese mentor, asked me ‘Did you speak to Dr Leslie Ding about the project?’ I told him I did not know who Dr Ding was. Sadly, Dr Ding had passed away in July 2009, but his achievements in mental health continue to make an impact. I would like to share those with you in this post.

Leslie Ding attended Otago University in 1958. He was the first New Zealand medical graduate of Chinese descent to qualify in psychiatry at Otago. Dr Ding moved to Christchurch and later became the consultant psychiatrist at Princess Margaret Hospital, where he established the eating disorders clinic.

He had a part-time private practice, lectured and supervised students at the University of Otago’s Christchurch clinical school, as well as working in forensic psychiatry.

Later, he was promoted to medical superintendent of Sunnyside Hospital, a position he held for four years before he became divisional manager of Canterbury’s psychiatric and geriatric services. 

In these two roles, he was involved with the change from institutional care to community-based services.
Dr Ding was closely involved with setting up the Comcare Charitable Trust in Canterbury where he remained involved for more than 20 years, including 11 years as chairman.

He was also active in other roles associated with his profession, including working as an accredited supervisor in postgraduate training, serving on the Mental Health Review Tribunal and the Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.

Dr Ding was very highly regarded and had risen through the ranks of his profession but he was quiet about his achievements and never boasted about them.

A man who maintained strong links with his own cultural heritage, he was also sensitive to the needs of other cultures. He was respected within his profession and was a role model in his community. 

In acknowledgement of Dr Leslie Ding and his passing in 2009 an invitation was extended to his nephew Dr Colin Ding to be part of the Kai Xin Xing Dong project in Christchurch.    

Read more about the Kai Xin Xing Dong project

Vaea Hutchen, Mental Health Promoter

A new beginning! Or is it?

A NZ Herald article last Monday “China displaces UK in Family migration to NZ” by Lincoln Tan sparked some thinking on my part, and many subsequent questions arose. This is the fourth and final blog in a small series on the topic that will cover my thoughts and concerns relating to such a projection.

Chinese translation

I have heard this story many times: immigrants see their life in New Zealand as a fresh start, a new beginning.

However, stories about under employment or unemployment for people who have migrated to New Zealand are common. Many come to New Zealand to find their university qualifications will not be recognized here. The need to support themselves and their families means they are forced to apply for ‘lesser’ jobs that aren’t as well paid.

Please don’t take me the wrong way, there’s nothing wrong with ‘blue collar’ or working class jobs. It’s just that going from being a doctor, for example, to a taxi driver can be very disheartening, especially when you thought your qualification and work experience would be recognized in New Zealand.

Suddenly, the ‘new beginning’ starts to take on a very different meaning, which can be very distressing and leads to financial hardship and mental health issues.

Unfortunately, many couples facing financial stress end up resenting their partner’s decision to come to New Zealand. This can have a negative impact on the whole family.

Divorce is common because of this, as is domestic violence and depression.

So what do you need to do if you are considering migrating to New Zealand?

Often migrants don’t actively seek all the information that is necessary.

You should think about whether or not your qualifications will be recognised. Talk to the relevant authorities here to ensure you will be able to carry on your career. If not, what is your ‘Plan B’?

Think about the kind of community you would like to live in, is that possible? Decipher what you are pursuing exactly, and what are you willing to sacrifice in order to attain that.

These are crucial actions and decisions that will enable you to make the transition process smoother, and avoid the possible negative long term consequences.

Online newspapers a great research resource

One way to ensure you are not making any incorrect assumptions is by reading online newspapers to identify common issues talked about by people who have undergone what you are aiming to do. See if there are any of their strategies you can adopt to ensure you avoid these disappointments and hardships. This does not necessarily mean you will have to abandon your dreams, but it will better prepare you for what to expect, and what must be done, when you arrive.

We don’t want history repeating itself. We must find effective ways to make sure those people who are newly arrived can have a better start. It is better for everyone this way.

If New Zealand is looking down the barrel of a large influx of immigrants over the next 15 years, we must all take on the lessons already learnt or more sad stories will continue and only increase in number.

We invite your comment on this serious and important topic.


Ivan Yeo, Mental Health Promoter, Like Minds

Sons and daughters – is immigration for your parents the best option?

A NZ Herald article last Monday “China displaces UK in Family migration to NZ” by Lincoln Tan sparked some thinking on my part, and many subsequent questions arose. This is the third blog in a small series on the topic that will cover my thoughts and concerns relating to such a projection.

Chinese translation

Last Monday’s article probably didn’t come as a surprise to many people. China has ranked second as a country with people migrating to New Zealand for many years.

The increase in family migration is partly due to China’s one-child policy, where parents want to be reunited with their only child, and this is entirely understandable.

To give others some deeper understanding of the issues, it helps to know that Chinese cultures are being influenced strongly by Taoism philosophy, where a collective approach of the family unit is far more important than an individual’s needs. There is a paramount obligation to be a good child; this is seen as an important virtue. But who gains from fulfilling this filial behavior, the parents or the child?

Often we let the joy of being reunited with our parents override other very real considerations; we forget about the possible long term issues.

If this situation applies to you, have you thought about the bigger picture yet? Have you and your parents considered the impact of language and culture differences, or leaving long established networks and friends behind. Will older Asian immigrants joining their children have enough to do in New Zealand, and have they thought about what it might be to retire in a new country? I believe we have to be honest with ourselves and ask if we are financially secure enough to provide what our family members need.

Before making the big decision, I urge you to talk about what your parents are going to do before coming over; they should be actively learning English, identifying community groups they can join and weighing up the losses against the gains before leaving the country.

Unfortunately, there are many older people I meet who experience depression due to isolation, loneliness, and language barriers and so on. If a mother has been a housewife for her entitle life, imagine how hard it is going to be when she suddenly needs to adapt to a totally new lifestyle and leaves a well established network of friends and wider family behind.

If you are someone’s daughter or son, please take time to consider why you are bringing your parents over. Please take some time to talk about the real issues that will occur before they depart their homeland for good. Being filial does not just mean being reunited with your parents, and it does not end there. Would you be able to spend quality time with them when they arrived, or will you be swamped with work in order to ensure they have a good life?

Your comments are very welcome.

Ivan Yeo, Mental Health Promoter, Like Minds

Support people going through residency process

A NZ Herald article last Monday “China displaces UK in Family migration to NZ” by Lincoln Tan sparked some thinking on my part, and many subsequent questions arose. This is the second blog in a small series on the topic that will cover my thoughts and concerns relating to such a projection.

Chinese translation

Many people who have gone through the process of applying to be a permanent resident of New Zealand have found it to be very draining and stressful, especially when they are helping family members to come and join them here. The process can also be expensive.

Most people experience anxiety of one degree or another during this time, especially when they have been separated from their family and are eager to get them here to ease their home sickness.

Certainly, this is not a criticism of the process, rather an acknowledgement of how it can be a very stressful experience and a call for people to understand the difficulties associated with it.

People coming to New Zealand usually do so to have a better lifestyle or a system that can provide an equal playing field in terms of education, employment and so on.

However, the journey to achieve this can bring with it a lot of uncertainty:

• Worry over their family not meeting the residency criteria.
• Not knowing how long the process take.
• Not knowing what other information should be provided to ensure things go smoothly.
• Worry over the cost of processing fees, especially if they have children, a partner and parents who are applying.

It is important to understand the process can be very taxing and that we are talking about real people with hopes and dreams and feelings, not just a string of case numbers.

Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications, it can be very hard to find someone to talk to when you just need a little bit of support. This is especially so when you are trying to get information together, and if your application has been turned down. That bad news letter can be heart breaking.

It can be frustrating, too, when you can’t find out what you can do to improve your chances, or where to go to get support so you can talk about it openly and without feeling the shame of missing your family or feeling vulnerable.

I have had the opportunity to talk to friends and others who have been through this process. Most felt isolated and that they needed ‘happy ending’ stories to know that things would work out for them too.

I understand it is a personal choice to immigrate, and there is a process to go through, but we should not lose sight of the fact that these people have made an emotional investment and for them it is not just an ‘application’.

A bit of empathy goes a long way - if you have friends or colleagues who are going through this process and you are close enough to chat about it with them about it, please do so and give them support so their stress and loneliness at this time may be eased.

Ivan Yeo, Mental Health Promoter, Like Minds

Are we ready for Asian immigration projections?

A NZ Herald article last Monday “China displaces UK in Family migration to NZ” by Lincoln Tan sparked some thinking on my part, and many subsequent questions arose. This is the first blog in a small series on the topic that will cover my thoughts and concerns relating to such a projection.

Chinese translation

According to Statistics New Zealand’s projection, our Asian population will reach 800,000 by 2026.The first, and overriding, question for me is this: are we ready yet? Especially, is our health system ready for such an influx?

Are we ready to ensure DHB services are Asian friendly? What about Asian health strategies nationwide? Have we developed specific and adequate Asian workforce development strategies yet, such as in mental health sector?

If we have all the indications of an increased Asian population, what will we do with this information? What needs to be done to enhance the streamlining of information and will it be used wisely?

Remember, it is well known that the family immigration category of ‘reunion’ can sometimes have a long term negative impact on family members, especially when English is not their first language. This can result in social isolation, language barriers and under employment. Even just the likelihood of unemployment leads to a change in family dynamics and can increase the possibility of people experiencing depression.

As well as an increased overall incidence of mental health problems in our population, anecdotal evidence points to elder depression due to social isolation and change of status.

Who is responsible for ensuring family members are well informed, and who will consider how best to prevent such problems? Have our politicians and decision makers, eg in the health system, thought about how to address those issues? Have we, as mental health workers?

Is there any promotion or prevention work that will ensure this can be addressed early, or have we not learnt anything from previous mistakes?  Is New Zealand, while deciding to bringing specific populations into the country, also prepared to support them in their integration into society?  Instead of being reactive, we, as a country, need to be better be prepared for this.

I am not sure that these questions are being addressed, or if they are that they will be adequately addressed in time.

So what are we waiting for? Do we want to see more family members suffering in silence, or do we have the will and the knowledge and ability to ensure that we have better strategies in place to create a mentally healthy nation, regardless of who or what stage people decide to come to this country.

Ivan Yeo, Mental Health Promoter, Like Minds, Like Mine