Why Many Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders Missed Out on Vital Mental Health Care and Food Aid During the Pandemic: Insights and Solutions

A recent report from UC Riverside, UCLA, and UC Irvine shines a light on how COVID-19 affected Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities in California. It highlights serious mental health and economic challenges faced by these groups during the pandemic, along with their struggle to access support services.

In a 2024 survey involving over 900 NHPI adults, about one-third expressed a need for mental health care in 2023. However, many didn’t receive the help they needed. Barriers like high costs, lack of insurance, stigma, and difficulty finding providers kept them from seeking care.

Andrew Subica, an associate professor of social medicine at UC Riverside and a co-author of the report, shared, “Despite experiencing a significant mental health burden, only a small percentage of NHPI adults sought care.” He noted that stress during this time stemmed from worries about health, finances, and family well-being. On a positive note, many found comfort through friends, family support, spiritual practices, and activities together.

Economically, over one-third of NHPI adults reported a drop in household income since the pandemic started. Subgroups, like those from Fiji and the Marshall Islands, faced particularly harsh impacts. Nearly 14% lost their regular jobs, and more than a quarter struggled to pay for essentials like rent and food. Alarmingly, less than one-third of those eligible accessed benefits such as Medi-Cal or CalFresh.

Historically, NHPIs have often been lumped together with the broader Asian American category in health and social data, which masks their specific struggles. For instance, the average income for NHPIs in California is significantly lower than that of Asian Americans.

Subica emphasized the importance of having detailed, disaggregated data. “This report highlights crucial differences between NHPI subgroups concerning mental health and economic issues,” he explained. Strong community engagement played a vital role in the study’s success.

Overall, this research not only uncovers the specific challenges NHPI communities face but also serves as a call for fair resource allocation and informed policymaking. The path ahead requires understanding these unique experiences to support NHPI individuals more effectively while ensuring their voices are heard.



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