Mental health and mental illness are very challenging topics to talk about or discuss, especially among Asians, Asian Americans and Asian Pacific Islanders. Real-life stories portrayed in films and movies can powerfully help people to start those discussions, to address these matters in an indirect way, and towards erasing shame.
Award-winning speaker and advocate Emily Wu Troung compiles this list of film documentaries about Asian Americans and mental health. Posted with permission. Thank you Emily! (show your thanks and like her Facebook page)
Films & Documentaries re: API Mental Health
[planned] “Things I Never Said” is a documentary seeking to inspire API groups to open up about their mental health issues. They’re raising funds for production costs via an Indiegogo crowdfunding in February-March 2019.
“Looking for Luke” by Eric I-Hwa Lu & Elaine Coin
Website: lookingforlukefilm.com
Facebook Page: facebook.com/lookingforlukefilm
“Unbroken Glass” by Dinesh Sabu
Website: unbrokenglassfilm.com
Facebook Page: facebook.com/UnbrokenGlassFilm/
Watch online @ worldchannel.org/episode/unbroken-glass/
“Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Kristina Wong Website: flyingwong.com
Trailer here: flyingwong.com/trailer.html
Facebook Page: facebook.com/flyingwong
“The S Word” by Lisa Klein
Facebook Page: facebook.com/SuiDoc
Website: theswordmovie.com
“Voices: Human & Untold Stories of Psychosis” by Gary Tsai & Hiroshi Hara
Trailer here: voicesdocumentary.com
Facebook Page: facebook.com/voicesdocumentary
“Can” by Pearl J. Park
Trailer here: youtube.com/watch?v=V720lROtoPE
Website: amongourkin.org
“The Laundromat” by Vanessa Yee
Website: atthelaundromat.com
Trailer here: vimeo.com/37093248
Facebook Page: facebook.com/TheLaundromatDocumentary
“Adultolescence” by Vicky Shen
Website: adultolescence.net
Facebook Page: facebook.com/adultolescence
“The House of Suh” by Iris K. Shim
Website: thehouseofsuh.com
Facebook Page: facebook.com/thehouseofsuh
Free viewing on Hulu: hulu.com/watch/527813
“Children of the Camps” by Dr. Satsuki Ina
pbs.org/childofcamp/documentary/
“The Cats of Mirikitani” by Linda Hattendorf & Masa Yoshikawa
thecatsofmirikitani.com
“Dialogues with Madwomen” by Allie Light
wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c141.shtml
“Who’s Going to Pay for These Donuts, Anyway?” by Janice Tanaka
wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c112.shtml
“Raymond’s Portrait” by Donald C. Young
fanlight.com/catalog/films/267_rp.php
AAPI Mental Health Resources
The following are resources listed at this page of mental health resources for people of color, curated by the American Psychological Association (APA) :
- National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA) @ Denver, CO
- Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations @ Washington, D.C.
- Asian American Health Initiative, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services @ Rockville, MD
Also see this list of top articles about Asian American mental health.