BU Today: Professor Hahm’s Discussion of the Mental Health Impact of “Model Minority” Pressures

Professor Hyeouk “Chris” Hahm has dedicated her work at BUSSW to protecting the mental health and sexual health of Asian American women.  She founded BUSSW’s Asian American Women’s Health Initiative Project (AWSHIP) and the federally funded Asian Women’s Action for Resilience and Empowerment (AWARE).  AWARE seeks to improve the mental and sexual health of Chinese American, Vietnamese American, and Korean American young women with a sensitivity towards cultural differences and experiences.  Hahm is now developing a new clinical trial called the “full AWARE intervention.”  This trial includes group psychotherapy sessions that will integrate issues of family, culture, and gender.  Hahm calls the clinical trial “integrative, holistic, and innovative.”  AWARE, which is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, grew from stories Hahm heard from diverse groups of Asian American women, who all felt the commonality of being swayed between mainstream American culture and their parents’ traditional culture while growing up and experiencing young adulthood.

Hahm’s work to ease mental health risk among Asian American women is discussed in her latest publication, “Model Minority” Pressures Take Mental Health Toll.  Click here to read more and see video testaments of young women in the AWARE program.