Research finds that Asian Americans suffer most from depression

A recent study from the National Alliance on Mental Illness reveals that Asian American teenage girls may have the highest rate of depression among all racial, ethnic or gender groups.

In the report, researchers found that Asian American women between ages 15 and 24 committed suicide more than any other racial or ethnic group. Moreover, suicide was discovered to be the fifth leading cause of death among the group overall. Comparatively, suicide was the ninth leading cause in white Americans.

Officials said that a national strategy of outreach and engagement using cultural message, ambassadors and social media may help those who suffer from depression. Depressed adolescents may also seek individual therapy which is offered in many boarding schools across the U.S.

They added that the recognition of cultural influences such as tight-knit family connections and desires could help to avoid stigma and shame from seeking treatment. Communicating with teens is another method of parental involvement that may help depressed teens.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 15 million Americans suffer from major depressive disorder.