Week 6 - Jiaqi Huang

Jiaqi Huang
Section 2
Week 6: Pathologizing of Asian Americans and the Americanization of Mental Illness and Other Harms to Humans

This week's readings explore a widely accepted "truth", the statistics of Asian-American students deteriated by mental illness. Alongside this acceptance is the idea that the model minority stereotype is the cause behind students' pressure and then mental illness. In Katherine Kam's article about the college environment, it neglects a corporate university's influence and "Pathologizing Everyday Life" focuses on the recent increasing number of mental illnesses and diagnosis. 

While I agree with Kam's article to a degree, I would've like her to mention the American approach to psychological illness have dramatically increased the effects of model minority. When students have one symptom, it can lead to a variety of mental concerns. Especially when American doctors approach their patients in a checklist fashion during diagnosis. In other words, students may be prescribed more than they require but the relation between health facilities (especially private ones) and corporate companies (like medication pharmacies or medical distributors), will mostly have professionals (over)prescribe medication. Although it's good that universities are creating support centers for its students, it also brings in another corporate relationship. By doing this, the university can kill two birds with one stone.

This week’s theme shows how technology and science can actually hold us back because we view its benefits greater than its warnings. Without proper information, regular citizens have to agree with industrial movement even when we don’t trust them. 

Question: What are other things we receive "naturally" from the industry but actually hurt us?  

The DSM grows over the years. 

References:

1. H. (2010, April 27). A MOMENT OF CRISIS IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN PSYCHIATRY [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://historypsychiatry.com/2010/04/27/a-moment-of-crisis-in-the-history-of-american-psychiatry/
2. Kam, K. (2013, September 13). On Some College Campuses, A Focus On Asian American Mental Health. New America Media. Retrieved from http://newamericamedia.org/2013/09/on-some-college-campuses-a-focus-on-asian-american-mental-health.php
3. Wasserman, T., & Wasserman, L. D. (2016). Depathologizing psychopathology: the neuroscience of mental illness and its treatment. Switzerland: Springer.