Working with Hindu Clients in a Spiritually Sensitive Manner (PDF)
This article discusses the significant cultural/spiritual beliefs, practices, and values of Hindus, the largest Asian religion in the United States and offers practice-oriented suggestions to facilitate cultural sensitivity and to further integrate the spiritual strengths of Hindus into the clinical dialogue.
The Role of Spirituality and Religion in Recovery from Drinking Problems (PDF)
This comparative analysis of South Asian men recovering from drink problems and White members of AA presents implications for those involved in implementing culturally appropriate treatment strategies, with a clear emphasis on spirituality’s role in treatment.
Family Therapy with East Indian Immigrant Parents Rearing Children in the United States: Parental Concerns, Therapeutic Issues, and Recommendations (PDF)
This article addresses concerns specific to parenting children in the US, and presents therapeutic issues relevant to East Indian immigrant parents and families.
Mental Health in Asian American Communities
Abstract: This paper aims to present recent data on the profile of Asian Americans in the US, summarize the extent of mental health need and utilization by this population, discuss barriers to mental health care, and present community-driven recommendations for improving mental health access and treatment with cultural and linguistic considerations. Where possible, information about specific ethnic groups and segments of the population will be presented to reveal the diversity of experiences and needs of this heterogeneous group.
Substance Abuse in Asian American Communities
Abstract: This paper will examine prevalence of ATOD use and abuse among Asian American populations by ethnicity and acculturation status, rates of treatment utilization by Asian Americans, barriers to care, and community-based models of culturally and linguistically appropriate substance abuse services.
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use in Asian American Youth
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to examine prevalence rates of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use within the Asian American youth population, examine subgroup differences, discuss potential risk and protective factors, and propose ideas for future programs and interventions aimed specifically for Asian American youth. Asian Americans will be defined in this paper as those of Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Island descent. Youth in this paper will include individuals age 18 and under.
Brief Reports: Psychiatric Illness and Substance Abuse Among Homeless Asian-American Veterans
Abstract: Objectives: This study examined the proportion of Asian Americans among homeless veterans and among veterans in the general population to calculate the relative risk of homelessness among Asian-American veterans. It also examined differences in rates of psychiatric and substance use disorders between homeless racial and ethnic subgroups. Methods: Data were gathered between 1997 and 2001 from the Health Care for Homeless Veterans program and included data from administrative intake, patients’ self-reports, and clinicians’ diagnostic assessments of substance use disorders and psychiatric illness. Results: Data were examined for 67,441 veterans. Asian-American veterans had a significantly lower risk of homelessness than veterans of other ethnic groups. Alcohol abuse was significantly and consistently less prevalent among Asian Americans compared with blacks and Hispanics. However, drug abuse was less prevalent among Asian Americans than among blacks and Hispanics, but rates were similar to those of whites. Conclusions: Lower rates of alcohol abuse may protect Asian-American veterans from becoming homeless. (Psychiatric Services 57:704-707, 2006)
