Newsbrief: ACMHS' Response to the Virginia Tech Tragedy
In the aftermath of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, ACMHS has received numerous calls for information and assistance. We welcome these inquiries and are committed to finding ways to address the barriers that prevent individuals and, in particular, Asians and Pacific Americans from receiving treatment for mental illnesses.
Some of our callers have focused on how to recognize “warning signs of danger.” We encourage the public not to give in to inaccurate associations of mental illness with violence. Research shows that people living with mental illness are no more likely to commit violent acts than the general public, especially when they have access to high quality treatment services.
It is clear now that many who knew Seung-Hui Cho both recognized the danger and reported it. The unanswered question is whether Seung-Hui Cho got the help so many saw that he needed - and if not, why not. Our experience at ACMHS is that people living with mental illness face many barriers to getting the services they need - and these barriers are higher and more numerous for Asian Pacific Americans and immigrants. We hope to see a comprehensive health care and education system, one which includes bilingual and bicultural clinicians and paraprofessionals who can link potential clients to the care they need. Our staff who work with young people of all races struggle with the fact that there are few resources that provide treatment in a non-stigmatizing way, especially for youth who may need multiple efforts over time before they are willing to get help.
At ACMHS, our clinicians work with Asian youth and families, many of whom are immigrants, in a culturally competent manner. That means we recognize the importance of a client's ethnicity and culture and the ways a client has been treated because of his or her race and immigration status. These are part of both our diagnosis and treatment for those who come to us to seek help.
We welcome you to contact us for further information and assistance. For general information, please call (510) 451-6729. To find out more about receiving treatment or getting a mental health assessment, please call (510) 869-7200.