The murders of Asian Americans over the last several days has been heartbreaking and traumatizing. These are just the most recent assaults in a long and painful year of violent acts against Asian-American communities, spurred by those promoting racist rhetoric that blames Asian people for the COVID-19 pandemic. Hate crimes against Asian Americans in major U.S. cities surged by nearly 150 percent in 2020, even as the overall number of hate crimes has fallen. The staff at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) mourn and seek justice for the murders of Delaina Ashley Yaun, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Paul Andre Michaels, and for all those of Asian descent who have been threatened and brutalized throughout American history.
As mental health providers committed to social justice, we vehemently oppose and condemn these acts of terrorism, white supremacy, and racism. Asian students need and deserve more from the system that perpetuates and benefits repeatedly from hate trauma.
We stand with Ithaca College Asian American Alliance (@ithaca_AAA), their statement, and recommend resources they have provided. CAPS is available for students seeking support. We would like to highlight the following quick-access CAPS services:
- Let’s Talk
- Crisis On Call (including after hours)
Students do not need to be active or ongoing CAPS clients to use these services. All services are completely confidential. Your mental health is our priority