I'm Jacky Hieu Lee, a counselor at Bình An. Research shows Asian Americans seek mental health support less than other groups — according to the National Latino and Asian American Study, only about 8.6% of Asian Americans seek mental health services, compared to 18% of the general population. For Vietnamese Americans, the number is even lower due to cultural barriers and stigma. Today Jacky Hieu Lee will bust the five most common myths — with data, not opinion.
Myth 1: 'Counseling is for crazy people.' Reality: Counseling helps healthy people cope with life stress, just like a physical check-up. You don't need to be 'severely ill' to go. According to UCLA Health, Asian Americans are 50% less likely to seek mental health services than other groups — not because they need it less, but because of this myth. Jacky Hieu Lee sees many people who simply need a safe place to talk about acculturation stress, parenting pressure, or homesickness.
Myth 2: 'Only Americans need it.' Reality: The Vietnamese community carries traumas that many other groups do not — war trauma, the boat-person experience, refugee camps, and family loss. Research published on PMC shows that public stigma is a major barrier keeping Vietnamese Americans from seeking support. Trauma doesn't fade on its own with time; it needs to be processed. Seeking help is strength, not weakness.
Myth 3: 'Talking to a stranger is disrespectful.' Reality: Counselors are trained to listen without judgment, and confidentiality is fully protected by California and federal law — even from family. HIPAA privacy law applies to all health services including mental health. I, Jacky Hieu Lee, commit to this with every client: what you say in the counseling room stays in the counseling room, except where there is a risk to life.
Myth 4: 'Prayer is enough.' Reality: Faith and counseling can walk together — one does not replace the other. Many studies show that combining spiritual life with professional support brings the best outcomes. Many of our counselors, including Jacky Hieu Lee, respect your spiritual life too — we don't ask you to give up your faith, we help you add another tool.
Myth 5: 'Children don't need it.' Reality: Children of immigrants carry their own stress — bullying, academic pressure, cultural conflict between home and school, and the burden of being a 'translator' for their parents. Children often can't express feelings in words, so they show them through behavior: poor eating and sleeping, dropping grades, or unusual anger. Early support helps them grow up healthy — and helps parents understand their children better. Jacky Hieu Lee works with the whole family, not just the child.
A point Jacky Hieu Lee wants to stress: mental health is not a 'luxury' for people who are already stable — it is a basic need, on par with physical health. If you have chest pain, you see a doctor. If you haven't slept in two weeks, feel anxiety with no clear cause, or have lost interest in everything — that is also a sign to get checked, just a mental health check.
At Bình An, we offer counseling in Vietnamese, free or on a sliding scale, for adults, children, and families. Jacky Hieu Lee and colleagues are trained in cultural trauma and the immigration experience — we understand why you hesitate, and we do not judge.
Want to talk? Call Bình An — Jacky Hieu Lee is ready to listen, in Vietnamese, without judgment. The first call is just a conversation — no commitment, no pressure.