Tanaya Kollipara

Stigma: Breaking the Asian American Silence on Mental Health Tanaya Kollipara

Suicide is the leading cause of death among Asian Americans ages fifteen to twenty-four. But most would never guess this due to mainstream representations, which portray Asian American and Pacific Islander groups as "model minorities" in health, wealth, and mannerisms.




Stigma: Breaking the Asian American Silence on Mental Health is both a narrative account and an informative look into the world of AAPI mental health. Exposing harmful narratives, while uplifting their voices and experiences, Tanaya Kollipara sets out to bring to light how the Asian/Pacific Islander identity impacts the stigma experienced and barriers faced by those with mental illness.




Weaving together stories with research and professional advice, Stigma dispels the myths and reveals the truths about mental health and mental illness within the AAPI community. Tanaya shows what happens when fear and cultural stigmas obstruct your ability to care for yourself- and, more importantly, what's waiting on the other side, when you take that step towards mental wellness.