Domestic abuse, cultural divide in spotlight after Chinese woman murdered in US

Sustainable Development Goals and Mental Health

Addressing Stigma and Early Intervention

“If only there wasn’t such a strong stigma, and given early intervention, a lot of these tragedies could be avoided,” said Elaine Peng, president of the Mental Health Association for Chinese Communities, based in Castro Valley, California, which is among the few groups in Silicon Valley or elsewhere catering to troubled Cantonese- and Mandarin-speakers. “It’s too bad that nobody noticed the seriousness of his problem so he could get help early on.”

Understanding the Tragedy

Many details and the motivation behind Chen’s alleged murder of Yu remain unknown and may only emerge at trial later this year. Nor is it known if Chen will cite mental health in his defense. But experts say problems the couple appeared to face fit patterns commonly seen in their counseling work.

Education and Pressure

Chinese and other Asian engineers working in the US often have stellar academic backgrounds before landing a job at Google, Meta or other leading US firms. Chen, from Sichuan province, and Yu, from Jilin province, were top students at their high schools before attending Beijing’s Tsinghua University and the University of California, San Diego. “Their perfect education background and work experience had allowed them to live an enviable life,” Global Times, a nationalist paper affiliated with People’s Daily, said in a report about the murder.

Immigrant Challenges

After the euphoria subsides, however, many immigrants with stressful careers are confronted with the first bout of hardship they have faced. Coddled by their parents, touted as prodigies by teachers, their personalities may be brittle and ill-equipped to deal with setbacks.

Domestic Violence and Cultural Factors

At the heart of domestic violence cases is an urge to exert control over a partner, compounded by jealousy, discomfort over a partner’s success or their calls for divorce. Men, often young, with low self-esteem who endured childhood abuse, are the main, although not exclusive, perpetrators of violence, according to the US National Institutes of Health.

Domestic violence is often more pronounced among immigrants who may be socially and culturally isolated, experts said, worsening the power imbalance and making it harder for the victim to leave or seek help given language barriers, ignorance or institutional racism.

Mental Health Support and Cultural Barriers

China has 0.036 clinical psychologists per 10,000 citizens, compared with 1.8 in the United Kingdom and six in the United States, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health, which found that 93.6 per cent of Chinese patients and caregivers misunderstand mental illnesses, preventing them from receiving appropriate care.

“In China, if someone reported you for domestic violence, often all you have to do is say this is a ‘family matter’. So then the husband or whoever is doing the violence says, ‘I’ll try harder’ — that will be it,” said Peng. “Little do they know, there is often zero tolerance in US domestic violence cases.”

Mental Health Challenges in the Tech Industry

Job insecurity has become the norm, with some 230,000 tech lay-offs since January 2023, and there is growing fear that generative artificial intelligence will replace humans as the industry is increasingly blamed for polarizing society.

Although Google, Amazon and other tech giants offer counseling and mental health programs, employees, particularly those foreign-born, are often hesitant to use them. Over 30 per cent of stressed tech workers avoid seeking treatment, afraid colleagues or family will judge them or they will lose their jobs, according to research firm Censuswide.

Asian-American Community and Mental Health

Asian-Americans are the fastest growing ethnic group in the US, led by Chinese, accounting for some 24 million people, or nearly 8 per cent of the US population. But they are also grappling with a lot, particularly males who may face great cultural pressure to excel, hide their feelings and avoid “looking weak,” experts said.

The Need for Culturally-Sensitive Counseling

Peng became aware of the enormous need for Chinese-language counseling after her husband committed suicide and her daughter became depressed, prompting her to start the association in 2012.

The association’s biggest problem remains a lack of resources and volunteers. Language skills without sensitivity or counseling expertise are problematic. “They may say ‘You want to commit suicide?’ at which point the client hangs up,” said Peng.

Breaking the Silence and Seeking Help

Wong said she has spent decades grappling with hurt, anger and family secrecy, a key epiphany coming after a close friend committed suicide, prompting her to seek alternative therapies.

“That immigrant experience is so complex,” she said, citing the competition in Asia that has emerged from historical poverty. “Even the definition of success in Asian cultures and within families is very challenging and it pushes us to a state of mental stress, but you can’t show it.”

Conclusion

Since the Yu killing, they have received more calls, and a silver lining may be growing awareness about domestic violence, stress and counseling. “Such a tragic event can hopefully open people’s eyes,” she said.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Specific Targets Based on the Article’s Content:

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article:

• Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease.
• Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: scmp.com

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