Vietnamese-Americans living along the Gulf Coast have experienced many collective traumas: the cultural trauma of displacement from their homes at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; the destruction of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, the costliest natural disaster in US history; the economic and ecological devastation of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010; and most recently the health and economic disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic. Alongside these acute collective stressors, many in the Vietnamese communities have also struggled with the pressures of acculturation, particularly among young adult second-generation immigrant Vietnamese-Americans who have trouble communicating with non-English speaking parents and grandparents. Although these Vietnamese communities have exhibited individual, familial, and community resilience in the face of the many disasters and stressors, there are reports of rising rates of mental health distress and disability among disaster-exposed individuals, even while the pursuit of mental health treatment remains highly stigmatized. Funded by the National Academy of Sciences, This project will test the fit and feasibility of adapting and employing an online version of an evidence-based mental health intervention, Self Help Plus, among young adult Vietnamese-Americans in New Orleans and Houston to address in a culturally-tailored fashion the specific mental health needs of this community.
Leadership Team
Mai Do, MD, DrPH, and David Abramson, PhD
