Dr. Thinh Toan Vu, adjunct assistant professor at York College, presented three research studies at the 2025 American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Expo addressing mental health disparities among New York City residents, with a particular focus on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI) communities.
The first study found that individuals with chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and asthma had significantly higher odds of experiencing serious psychological distress (SPD). Intersectional differences emerged by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Among adults with household incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, multiple chronic conditions were linked to SPD for AA/PI individuals and Hispanic individuals. Among those with incomes at or above 200 percent of the poverty level, only White adults showed a significant association between obesity and SPD.
The second study examined serious psychological distress, unmet mental health treatment needs, and help-seeking behaviors among Asian Americans in New York City. Overall, 7.4 percent of Asian Americans reported SPD, yet only 39.1 percent sought either informal or formal support. Individuals with SPD reported higher unmet mental health treatment needs. The most common barriers to mental health care included self-reliance, cost, and unawareness of available resources. Family and friends were the primary source of support among overall Asian Americans.
The third study highlighted diversity within the AA/PI population, showing that aggregate data can mask important disparities. Asian Indians reported higher SPD than Chinese adults at 11.5 percent versus 2.8 percent. South Asians overall had higher SPD than East Asians at 11.5 percent versus 3 percent. Elevated SPD was also observed among young adults, sexual minorities, and unmarried individuals.
According to Dr. Vu, “Mental health is deeply intertwined with physical health and social context. Our findings show that integrating mental health screening into chronic disease management and tailoring culturally responsive interventions can meaningfully improve population health.”
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.york.cuny.edu/news/2026/professor-vu-presents-new-research-on-mental-health-disparities