Chinese American teens experience depression, anxiety at higher rates than peers – here’s why their parents may miss the warning signs

Many Chinese and Chinese American students do not seek the mental health care they might need, sometimes because of stigma. Jonathan Kirn/The Image Bank/Getty Images

She has straight A’s, a full schedule of Advanced Placement classes, a chair in the youth orchestra and a bedroom wallpapered with college acceptance letters. She also hasn’t slept a full night in months. She lies awake at 2 a.m., convinced she is a burden to her family – and she has no idea how to tell anyone.

I know students like this. My niece – a teenager who was quiet, hardworking and by every outward measure doing well – was one of them.