St. Louis County has the highest density of AAPIs in the state: in 2014, 4+% of county residents identified residents identified as being of Asian descent, and municipalities such as Clayton, Creve Coeur, and Chesterfield saw the sharpest increase of AAPIs. In 2019/2020, 16% of Ladue students, 13% of Clayton students, and 13% of Parkway students were Asians. However, there is a noted lack of mental health resources dedicated to AAPI youth.

Asian Americans’ mental health needs are not adequately met. National statistics show that white Americans utilize mental health services at 3 or 4 times that of Asian Americans. In St. Louis, there is a vacuum for resources, for conversation space, for overall awareness and capacity at the individual level (youth members in particular), family level (parents) and community level (community organizations). There is also a lack for data driven and culturally informed interventions.

COVID-19 caused major cancellations in community events, weekend school, or church activities, on which immigrant communities like AAPIs heavily rely on for youth engagement. In addition, the increase of anti-AAPI hate incidents around the nation affected St. Louis Asian youth also. Data collected in early 2021 showed 70-80% of St. Louis AAPI youth were somewhat or very concerned “about the safety of their family members due to their accent or ‘foreign looks’.” Community resources lack significantly.