Description
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rise of anti-Asian racism and hate crimes has been unprecedented. 11,000 incidents of anti-Asian violence and harassment were reported from March 2020 to December 2021 alone. According to the National Anti-Asian American Racism Survey, 6 out of 10 persons reported experiencing active discrimination, while rates of depression and stress jumped by 155 percent and 94 percent, respectively. Since 2020, Asian students have encountered increased race-based aggression and harassment due to the origin of the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic. We will discuss the effects of harmful language and scapegoating of the Asian community and how this has perpetuated violence against this group. In light of frequent reports of violence and anti-Asian racist attacks, including on healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, we felt an urgent need to survey Asian medical trainees (medical students, residents, fellows) to gain insights into their experiences of racism, discrimination, and xenophobia during the COVID-19 pandemic and contrast with those occurring prior to the pandemic. We noted the settings in which this occurred; the impact on psychological health, physical health, concern about the future, and concern about family and friends being victims of racism. We also queried whether the participants sought mental health care due to racism, whether they felt an impact of their negative experiences on their medical training, and how they perceived their respective institution’s response to the racism. We leveraged the power of social media to reach out to potential participants across the US and will discuss our findings. During the COVID-19 pandemic, younger adults and underrepresented racial/ethnic groups have reported disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation. Asian college students have not only had to deal with these stressors but also cope with racial discrimination and attacks. We will discuss another project that investigates the mental health issues and racial discrimination experienced by Asian college students during COVID-19 pandemic. We will compare experiences of racism, stress, anxiety, and depression, prior to and after the COVID-19 pandemic started, and the settings in which they occur. We will also discuss the prevalence and different forms of racism experienced by students, ranging from microaggressions to more overt forms of discrimination including harassment and violence. Academic and training institutions must address current exacerbated mental health problems experienced by Asian students and protect this marginalized community. Acknowledging racism as a public health crisis and learning strategies to increase visibility and support for Asian students can be implemented through advocacy, education, and outreach and may beneficially be applicable to other underrepresented students as well.
Format
Recorded webinar.
This content was recorded during the APA 2023 Annual Meeting.
Learning Objectives
- Participants will understand the increased need for mental health treatment on college campuses, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and accelerated this need.
- Participants will learn about the demographic changes that contribute to campus diversity, and how the effects of world events and the current political climate affect Asian students.
- Participants will understand recent studies conducted by our group examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Asian students.
- Participants will develop critical strategies to become allies and advocates supporting Asian students through the landscape of the pandemic and anti-Asian racism.
- Participants will increase their knowledge base about the cultural determinants of mental health and demonstrate competency in working with Asian young adults.
Target Audience
Medical Students, Residents/Fellows, Psychiatrists, non-psychiatrist Physicians
Estimate Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1.25 hours
Program Start Date: May 1, 2025
Program End Date: May 1, 2028
How to Earn Credit
Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ may do so after completing all sections of the course including the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the completion date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
The APA designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Instructors
- Amy Alexander, MD
- Huiqiong Deng, MD, PhD
- Rishab Gupta, MD
- Donna Tran, MD, MPH
Planners
- Vishal Madaan, MD, Chief of Education and Deputy Medical Director at the American Psychiatric Association.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. Please contact the American Psychiatric Association at 202-559-3900, if you require assistance seven (7) business days prior to the start of a live webinar.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact learningcenter@psych.org for technical assistance