An excerpt of “Wong Flew Over a Cuckoo’s Nest,” performed by Kristina Wong April 25, revealed the high rates of suicide among Asian-Americans, especially women. Though Asian stereotypes were used for comic relief, Wong also focused on issues Asian youths have when it comes to communicating with parents.

Statisticly, suicide among Asian-American women in college is one of the highest in the country, Wong said. She attributed this to women having trouble talking about personal issues, even to family. 

Wong told a fictional story of herself wondering what her parents would say at her funeral when she died, but she only came up with, “She had good grades, and won these awards.” The fact even her family wouldn’t know much about her as a person made her feel sad.

In another anecdote, Wong spoke of an Asian man who didn’t know he had a brother because his parents had erased all memories and photos after the brother had killed himself. Although the example is extreme, it illustrates the taboo of suicide and mental illness in Asian Americans. 

According to Wong, the national average for mental illness is one in 10; however, the number of Asians recorded with mental illness is practically zero. Asians still have the same proclivity to mental illnesses as any other ethnic group, but they do not openly talk or admit it, she said.

Wong said there is no word for depression in Chinese, and the closest word is the one used for laziness. This illustrates the attitude Asians hold towards those who are depressed or mentally ill. It is seen as a problem in the family, and keeping the problems within the family is an Asian cultural value. This makes it hard for therapists to help Asian-American patients because they don’t share what’s wrong in their household.

Wong created her performance to show the internal struggle of Asian-Americans needing to connect with others. 

“When you grow up, you are never raised to be happy because you follow a path that is supposed to happen,” Wong said. “Whenever you don’t follow the trajectory, you feel panicked and like a failure.” 

Wong admitted to having a breakdown, taking medication, and being hospitalized in the past. When it comes to communicating, Wong believes that students silently go crazy when there is no one to talk to.

Wong’s performance was more thought-provoking than humorous, but it brought complicated problems to the surface. She said she hopes that Asian students will use her performance as a method to indirectly talk about family problems with their parents, Asian-American students won’t feel as alienated, thus abling themselves to share problems with those who can help them. 

If you know anyone who may be in danger of hurting themselves, call the Santa Clara County Mental Health Department: 800-704-0900.