Data Disaggregation for Asian Americans: Where We Are Now

As a racial group, Asian Americans are often perceived as having few or no mental health issues. Such a perception is perpetuated by data that has, historically, captured the experiences of Asian Americans in the aggregate. While there is growing recognition of heterogeneity among Asian Americans, the recent political climate threatens to undo efforts toward reaching mental health equity. In this perspective article, we argue for the importance of data disaggregation among Asian Americans to identify and reduce mental health disparities. We contextualize the social experiences of different Asian American ethnic groups and highlight how their mental health experiences can differ. We also review current obstacles to data disaggregation and mental health equity, outline a potential path forward, and examine limitations.