Families are Central for Support, Prevention, and Recovery

Family is very important to most Asian cultural groups. The Asian family has a strong bond that provides for growth and opportunity within the family, and which lasts into adulthood. Certain virtues and predominant Asian values pertaining to family, harmony, and education offer fundamental guidelines for living. The family, for example, is the basic unit of society and the central focus of the individual’s life. Harmony is the keynote of existence. Successful academic achievement is the greatest tribute a child can bestow on one’s parents and family. Virtues such as patience, perseverance, self-sacrifice, maintenance of inner strength, self-restraint, modesty, and humility are each considered necessary expressions of dignity that promote the group welfare.
Source:
http://www.dbpeds.org/articles/detail.cfm?TextID=%20397
What if I suspect someone in my family is suffering from mental illness?

Most people tend to think that mental disorders are rare and “happen to someone else." However, on the contrary, mental disorders are extremely common and widespread. An estimated 54 million Americans suffer from some form of mental disorder in a given year.
Most families are not prepared to cope when they learn that their loved one has a mental illness. It can be physically and emotionally difficult, and it can make us feel vulnerable to the opinions and judgments of others. However, if you think you or someone you know may have a mental or emotional problem, it is important to remember that there is hope and help. Please refer to the different sections of this web site for specific information on mental disorders and some advice on how to get help.
For additional information, please visit the following web site:
http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/mi-and-the-family/recognizing-warning-signs-and-how-to-cope
Most families are not prepared to cope when they learn that their loved one has a mental illness. It can be physically and emotionally difficult, and it can make us feel vulnerable to the opinions and judgments of others. However, if you think you or someone you know may have a mental or emotional problem, it is important to remember that there is hope and help. Please refer to the different sections of this web site for specific information on mental disorders and some advice on how to get help.
For additional information, please visit the following web site:
http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/mi-and-the-family/recognizing-warning-signs-and-how-to-cope
Special Age Groups at Increased Risk
Please refer to the sections on Teens and Young Adults and Our Grandparents and Elders to learn more about the specific issues that affect these groups and that place them at higher risk for depression and suicide.