Professor Vu Presents New Research on Mental Health Disparities

Dr. Thinh Toan Vu, adjunct assistant professor, who teaches Foundation of Health and Well-being in the Department of Health and Human Performance, presented three research studies at the 2025 American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Expo in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Vu’s research addresses the growing mental health crisis through a series of studies on serious psychological distress (SPD), chronic disease, and mental health disparities among New York City residents, with a particular focus on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI) communities. The studies draw on data from the New York City Community Health Survey (2019–2020) and the Neighborhood Wellness Survey (2023).

“Mental health is deeply intertwined with physical health and social context,” said Dr. Vu. “Our findings show that integrating mental health screening into chronic disease management and tailoring culturally responsive interventions, especially for AA/PI communities, can meaningfully improve population health.”

Three studies, one mission: understanding and reducing mental health inequities

1. Association of serious psychological distress with chronic diseases among New York City adults.
   This citywide analysis found that individuals with chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and asthma had significantly higher odds of experiencing SPD. Intersectional differences emerged by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status: among adults with household incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), multiple chronic conditions were linked to SPD for AA/PI individuals (excluding obesity and asthma) and Hispanic individuals (excluding obesity). Among those with incomes at or above 200 percent FPL, only White adults showed a significant association between obesity and SPD. These findings highlight the complex interplay of chronic disease, mental health, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, emphasizing the need for integrated, culturally tailored care that addresses both physical and mental health.
2. Serious psychological distress, unmet mental health treatment needs, and help-seeking behaviors among Asian Americans in New York City.
   Overall, 7.4 percent of Asian Americans reported SPD, yet only 39.1 percent sought either informal or formal support. Individuals with SPD also reported higher unmet mental health treatment needs and more help-seeking compared to the general Asian population. The most common barriers to mental health care included self-reliance, cost, and unawareness of available resources. These findings underscore the need for targeted efforts to improve mental health literacy, affordability, and accessibility in underserved communities. Additionally, family and friends were the primary source of support among overall Asian Americans, highlighting the importance of incorporating existing social networks into mental health interventions. The complete study is published in Social Science & Medicine.
3. Serious psychological distress among Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in New York City.
   Findings highlight the diversity within the AA/PI population, as aggregate data can mask important disparities. Particularly, specific subgroups experienced notably higher SPD: Asian Indians reported higher SPD than Chinese adults (11.5 percent vs. 2.8 percent), and South Asians overall had higher SPD than East Asians (11.5 percent vs. 3 percent). Elevated SPD was also observed among young adults, sexual minorities, and unmarried individuals, underscoring the importance of disaggregated data and culturally targeted interventions.

Advancing health equity in New York City

Together, these studies highlight the intersection of mental health, chronic disease, and structural barriers, providing actionable insights for policymakers, health systems, and community organizations.