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Constance Wu gets real about mental health and we’re listening.
The actress has been on the scene for quite a while. However, her role in the 2018 film, Crazy Rich Asians, cemented her as one to watch in Hollywood. The beloved film earned Wu a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in Comedy or Musical and two NAACP Image Awards.
In 2019, Wu’s ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat announced it would be renewed for a sixth season. She took Twitter to air out her annoyance saying,
“So upset right now that I’m literally crying. Ugh. F***” and “F***ing hell.”
Apparently, that comment didn’t sit too well with her followers who categorized her with unflattering statements. The adverse reaction took a toll on her mental health causing her to break from the limelight and social media.
On July 14, the 40-year-old actress released a statement on Twitter detailing,
“I haven’t been on social media in almost 3 years…I was afraid of coming back on social media because I almost lost my life from it,” Wu wrote. “[Asian Americans] don’t talk about mental health enough. While we’re quick to celebrate representation wins, there’s a lot of avoidance around the more uncomfortable issues within our community.”
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) July 14, 2022
Wu also said after receiving a message from another Asian actress calling her a “blight” within the Asian community, she didn’t feel deserving “to live anymore.”
The National Latino and Asian American Study reported that only 8.6% of Asian Americans make use of mental health services. A similar study found that white U.S. citizens are three times more likely to use mental-hygiene resources.
Hyeouk Chris Hahm, an associate dean at Boston’s University School of Social Work said,
“Asian American women want to be their authentic selves but their image and behavior are prescribed by society and family expectations,” per NPR.
Hahm highlighted the cultural experience of many Asian women who are often groomed to be poised, soft-spoken, and submissive in society. He continued,
“When Asian American women try to be autonomous, ambitious, self-fulfilling, it’s been historically perceived as threatening the social order and social norm.”
Wu revealed that while Asians are often celebrated for their works while mental health conversations take a back seat.
However, she’s ready to emerge from coming out of that dark space. The Virginia native got back on Instagram and posted a promotional pic for the 2021 film, I Was A Simple Man. Wu reflected on having a “wonderful experience” and how much she “loved the cast.”
“While I was off the grid recovering, I took a little break from my acting career. But during that time I did do a couple [of] select small projects with people I love and trusted,” she said in her July 25 post. “I Was a Simple Man was one of those projects.”
She added,”
But now that I’m back on here for a bit, wanted to share this beautiful film by my dear friend @makotoyogi who I love and admire very much,” she continued tagging director Christoper Makoto Yogi. “Loved the cast and crew and heart of this experience.”
View this post on Instagram
The new mom, who welcomed a daughter in 2020, owes her healing journey to therapy and breaking away from the Hollywood lifestyle.
“I feel OK enough to venture back on here (at least for a little bit),” she concluded in her tweet. “And even though I’m scared, I’ve decided that I owe it to the me-of-3-years-ago to be brave and share my story so that it might help someone with theirs.”
Wu advocated for others who may be suffering in silence to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to https://t.co/rRfEpX8Lhm
— Constance Wu (@ConstanceWu) July 14, 2022
