Chinanews, October 8th. According to New Zealand Tianwei.com compiled a report, an advocacy organization called for a targeted mental health program for the New Zealand Asian community.

The organization said that the mental health of Asian New Zealanders is deteriorating, and the new crown pneumonia epidemic has made this problem worse.

　　The National Asian Mental Health and Addiction Advocacy and Advisory (NAMAA) of New Zealand said that since the outbreak, the demand for mental health services in these communities has soared.

　　Ivan Yeo is a member of NAMAA and the deputy director of Asian Family Services.

According to the records of the Asian Service Hotline (a telephone consultation service in eight languages ​​operated by an Asian Family Service Agency), the number of calls increased by 150% between May and July this year.

During the same period, the number of cases transferred to anti-gambling counseling courses also increased by 138%.

　　The agency said that because of the epidemic ban and border closures, family pressures have become more complicated. For example, domestic violence and intergenerational conflicts are on the rise; there is also the pressure that families cannot be reunited when the family welcomes a newborn or someone passes away. .

Moreover, this community is also facing a lot of economic pressure, because a large proportion of Asians are employed in the catering and service industries, and these industries are most affected by the new crown epidemic.

　　There was an elderly woman whose mental condition had been going downhill for many years, and later she even lit the sofa and said she would "dispel evil spirits."

At that time, the family members took the initiative to contact the health agency.

She was diagnosed with a mental illness and later received treatment.

The family did not seek professional help as soon as possible because they felt that their parents had some problems in their culture.

The correct approach is to accept mothers as they are, and accept the challenges that come with them.

　　Dr Aram Kim heads the Korean Community Health Center and is also the psychiatrist of the elderly woman mentioned above.

In fact, she had been sick for more than ten years when he diagnosed the patient.

If she can be diagnosed and treated earlier, it will be more than ten years of meaningful family life.

Dr Kim said that she could not fully recover because of the late delivery time.

　　The advocacy group stated that this is just one of the many problems encountered by front-line clinicians dealing with the diverse Asian communities in New Zealand, and many of the problems are still getting worse.

　　Dr Kim pointed out: “In many Asian communities, there is a lot of shame and discrimination regarding mental health issues, so it is difficult for everyone to realize the problems and get help as soon as possible.”

　　The survey shows that compared with other ethnic groups in New Zealand, the use of mental health services by Asians is very low.

　　NAMAA said that, despite the surge in demand for information health care, users can still only come to Asian care providers because of language and cultural barriers, and it is difficult to seek mainstream care services.

　　Dr Kim believes: "We know that no matter what ethnicity, as long as there is health inequity, it will bring a high price to the society." He refers to the impact on health and social cohesion, as well as addiction and suicide. hurt.

　　Asians currently account for 15% of the total population.

　　"This means that in the next ten or twenty years, a large part of the working-age population will be Asian. Therefore, the healthy development of the Asian population is not only critical to the physical and mental health of this community, but also to the overall health of New Zealand. The economy is also very important."

　　A few days ago, NAMAA has launched a petition calling on the Ministry of Health to introduce a mental health support policy for Asian communities.