Overcoming Cultural Stigmas in Mental Health as an Iranian-American Student

The purpose of our submission is to shed light on the cultural stigmas surrounding mental health services and their impact on an individual’s decision to seek care. Through our video, we depicted the experience of an Iranian-American college student experiencing mental health struggles. Despite the encouragement of his friends to pursue professional support, the deep-seated beliefs within his family and cultural background created barriers that discouraged him from doing so. The clash between his cultural beliefs and his personal struggles with mental health made it challenging for him to seek the care he needed. After conversing with his mother and friends, he finally decided to seek counseling services and protect his own well being. This was his first step toward prioritizing his mental health, paving the way for a future built on vulnerability and inner peace.