6 Books on Asian American Mental Health

A curated list of books centered on Asian American mental health.

Permission to Come Home: Reclaiming Mental Health as Asian Americans by Jenny Wang

From the creator of the popular Instagram account @asiansformentalhealth, this book is a moving invitation to return closer to home, a place of acceptance, belonging, and freedom. I like this book for its culturally sensitive approach to boundaries and its broader applications for those who are part of the Asian diaspora.

But What Will People Say? Navigating Mental Health, Identity, Love, and Family Between Cultures by Sahaj Kaur Kohli

This is another landmark book about diasporic cultures, culture clashes, and individual and collective well-being. I appreciate how the book is a loving, respectful, and culturally grounded exploration that is relevant for anyone who comes from an immigrant background.

Nervous: Essays on Heritage and Healing by Jen Soriano

This memoir is a compelling exploration of the complex interaction between trauma of all forms, the physical body, injury, and marginalization. Soriano explores the roots of her chronic pain as she traverses the history of the colonization in the Philippines, her life in the Bay Area, and the fluidity of nervous systems.

The Healing Trauma Workbook for Asian Americans: Heal from Racism, Build Resilience, and Find Strength in Your Identity by Helen H. Hsu

This workbook blends psychology with mind-body approaches as part of culturally informed approach. The workbook offers ways to address trauma and internalized oppression and foster a rooted sense of cultural identity.

Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity by Soo Jin Lee and Linda Yoon

This book offers a broad representation of the Asian diaspora. The book provides tools, reflection questions, journal prompts, and exercises to connect with strengths and resilience across the generations.

Flowers in the Dark: Reclaiming Your Power to Heal from Trauma with Mindfulness by Sister Dang Nghiem

This book is an approachable guide to practicing mindfulness as part of the Plum Village Tradition. Sister Dang Ngheim offers a trauma-centered approach to mindfulness.