Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP
Constance Wu arrives at the premiere of "The Terminal List" on June 22, 2022, at the Directors Guild of America theatre in Los Angeles.
Actress Constance Wu, known for her lead roles in “Fresh Off the Boat” and “Crazy Rich Asians,” said she attempted suicide three years ago after receiving backlash for tweets she wrote about the hit TV show.
In a statement shared on Twitter, Wu said she was making her return to social media after a three-year hiatus, during which she wrote an autobiographical book, “Making a Scene.”
“I was afraid of coming back on social media because I almost lost my life from it,” Wu said. “3 years ago, when I made careless tweets about the renewal of my TV show, it ignited outrage and internet shaming that got pretty severe.”
The tweets in question were published in 2019, after it was announced that the ABC sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat” was renewed for another season, Variety reported.
Wu, who played family matriarch Jessica Huang on the show about a Taiwanese-American family living in Florida in the 1990s, expressed some frustration about the show’s continuation.
“So upset right now that I’m literally crying,” Wu wrote, according to Variety.
When a Twitter user said the show’s renewal was “great news,” Wu responded, saying “No it’s not,” according to Variety.
Wu later apologized for the comments and clarified them, saying that she loved the show, but would be forced to give up a project that she was “really passionate about” in order to keep playing her role, Buzzfeed reported in 2019.
“So my dismayed social media replies were more about that other project and not about FOTB,” she said, according to Buzzfeed.
But Wu opened up even more about the incident in her Twitter statement, saying that she “felt awful” about what she said.
“When a few DMs from a fellow Asian actress told me I’d become a blight on the Asian American community, I started feeling like I didn’t even deserve to live anymore,” Wu confessed. “That I was a disgrace to (Asian Americans), and they’d be better off without me.”
“Looking back, it’s surreal that a few DMs convinced me to end my own life, but that’s what happened,” Wu said. “Luckily, a friend found me and rushed me to the ER.”
Toward the end of her statement, Wu shared that “after a little break from Hollywood and a lot of therapy,” she feels prepared to step back into the public eye little by little.
Wu, 40, who was born to Taiwanese immigrant parents in Virginia, had a breakout film role in “Crazy Rich Asians” in 2018 and another lead role in the film “Hustlers” in 2019. She currently appears in the “The Terminal List” series on Amazon Prime.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800 273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
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How to get therapy when cost is a barrier
Chinnapong // Shutterstock
March 11, 2022 marked the second anniversary of the World Health Organization’s official declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19’s devastating impacts included the disruption of mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide, according to a WHO survey of 130 countries. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration data further show that more than one in every five American adults experienced mental illness in 2020.
Sidecar Health looked at how the prevalence of mental health disorders breaks down by age, citing SAMHSA data aggregating Q1 and Q4 survey data on mental health in 2020 and survey data specifically focused on the pandemic’s impacts on mental health.
Mental illnesses include different conditions with varying degrees of severity and can be broken down into two broad categories: any mental illness (AMI), encompassing all recognized mental illnesses; and serious mental illness, a more severe subset of AMI that interferes with or limits activities of daily living.
Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against those experiencing mental illness have created significant barriers to care. Fewer than half of those with mental health disorders in 2020 received treatment, according to data from Mental Health America. This is often due to fear of judgment by family, friends, or co-workers. Keep reading to see how the severity of mental illness impacted three age groups among American adults.
Chinnapong // Shutterstock
March 11, 2022 marked the second anniversary of the World Health Organization’s official declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19’s devastating impacts included the disruption of mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide, according to a WHO survey of 130 countries. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration data further show that more than one in every five American adults experienced mental illness in 2020.
Sidecar Health looked at how the prevalence of mental health disorders breaks down by age, citing SAMHSA data aggregating Q1 and Q4 survey data on mental health in 2020 and survey data specifically focused on the pandemic’s impacts on mental health.
Mental illnesses include different conditions with varying degrees of severity and can be broken down into two broad categories: any mental illness (AMI), encompassing all recognized mental illnesses; and serious mental illness, a more severe subset of AMI that interferes with or limits activities of daily living.
Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against those experiencing mental illness have created significant barriers to care. Fewer than half of those with mental health disorders in 2020 received treatment, according to data from Mental Health America. This is often due to fear of judgment by family, friends, or co-workers. Keep reading to see how the severity of mental illness impacted three age groups among American adults.
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How to get therapy when cost is a barrier
Daisy Daisy // Shutterstock
- People living with mental health disorders: 30.6%
--- 29.3% of adults 18-20
--- 31.3% of adults 21-25
- Those reporting a significant negative impact on mental health due to the pandemic:
--- Among all respondents: 23.2%
--- Those with any mental health disorder: 48.5%
--- Those with serious mental health disorders: 52.7%
The American Psychological Association's 2020 Stress in America survey revealed the U.S. is facing a national mental health crisis that requires strategic problem solving.
Gen Z adults (ages 18-23) met additional challenges in 2020, from entering a workforce while the economy was in a freefall due to a lack of in-person contact with co-workers, classmates, and loved ones. This age group is already at high risk for mental illness due to ongoing uncertainties and high levels of stress.
Online surveys conducted in April of 2020 with 195 college students in Texas found the leading stressor during the pandemic was a concern for their health and the health of their loved ones. Beyond issues of mental health, Gen Z adults also reported negative health impacts due to the pandemic, including poor sleeping patterns, poor diets, and weight fluctuation.
Daisy Daisy // Shutterstock
- People living with mental health disorders: 30.6%
--- 29.3% of adults 18-20
--- 31.3% of adults 21-25
- Those reporting a significant negative impact on mental health due to the pandemic:
--- Among all respondents: 23.2%
--- Those with any mental health disorder: 48.5%
--- Those with serious mental health disorders: 52.7%
The American Psychological Association's 2020 Stress in America survey revealed the U.S. is facing a national mental health crisis that requires strategic problem solving.
Gen Z adults (ages 18-23) met additional challenges in 2020, from entering a workforce while the economy was in a freefall due to a lack of in-person contact with co-workers, classmates, and loved ones. This age group is already at high risk for mental illness due to ongoing uncertainties and high levels of stress.
Online surveys conducted in April of 2020 with 195 college students in Texas found the leading stressor during the pandemic was a concern for their health and the health of their loved ones. Beyond issues of mental health, Gen Z adults also reported negative health impacts due to the pandemic, including poor sleeping patterns, poor diets, and weight fluctuation.
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How to get therapy when cost is a barrier
Josep Suria // Shutterstock
- People living with mental health disorder: 25.3%
--- 27.4% of adults 26-29
--- 29.0% of adults 30-34
--- 25.2% of adults 35-39
--- 22.3% of adults 40-44
--- 22.2% of adults 45-49
- Those reporting a significant negative impact on mental health due to the pandemic:
--- Among all respondents: 21.4%
--- Those with any mental health disorder: 45.5%
--- Those with serious mental health disorders: 54.6%
There was a 47% increase in major depression diagnoses in millennials pre-pandemic, according to a 2019 report from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. By October of 2020, the BCBSA reported an increase in certain behaviors including alcohol consumption (34% increase), smoking (20% increase), vaping (17% increase), and non-medicinal drug use (16% increase).
Anxiety in 2022 impacts the daily lives of more than half of millennials, according to a February 2022 study by Ramsey Solutions for The State of Mental Health.
Josep Suria // Shutterstock
- People living with mental health disorder: 25.3%
--- 27.4% of adults 26-29
--- 29.0% of adults 30-34
--- 25.2% of adults 35-39
--- 22.3% of adults 40-44
--- 22.2% of adults 45-49
- Those reporting a significant negative impact on mental health due to the pandemic:
--- Among all respondents: 21.4%
--- Those with any mental health disorder: 45.5%
--- Those with serious mental health disorders: 54.6%
There was a 47% increase in major depression diagnoses in millennials pre-pandemic, according to a 2019 report from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. By October of 2020, the BCBSA reported an increase in certain behaviors including alcohol consumption (34% increase), smoking (20% increase), vaping (17% increase), and non-medicinal drug use (16% increase).
Anxiety in 2022 impacts the daily lives of more than half of millennials, according to a February 2022 study by Ramsey Solutions for The State of Mental Health.
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How to get therapy when cost is a barrier
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
- People living with mental health disorder: 14.5%
--- 19.2% of adults 50-54
--- 17.8% of adults 55-59
--- 13.5% of adults 60-64
--- 11.8% of adults 65 or older
- Those reporting a significant negative impact on mental health due to the pandemic:
--- Among all respondents: 14.2%
--- Those with any mental health disorder: 43%
--- Those with serious mental health disorders: Data not sufficient
The majority of U.S. adults between the ages of 50 and 80 in January of 2021 perceived their mental health as being as good or better than, it was 20 years ago, according to a survey from the National Poll of Healthy Aging. Still, nearly half of this age group reported feeling stressed and isolated from others. Mental health conditions may be treatable and manageable with the right support, but nearly one in three older adults said they would have some hesitation about seeking mental health care in the future.
Women, lower-income earners, and those with worse physical health experienced mental illness symptoms more often.
During the first six months of the pandemic, workers aged 55 and older were 17% more likely to get laid off than their younger colleagues. This put a burden on financial security during retirement and the loss of benefits necessary during this stage of life.
This story originally appeared on Sidecar Health and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
- People living with mental health disorder: 14.5%
--- 19.2% of adults 50-54
--- 17.8% of adults 55-59
--- 13.5% of adults 60-64
--- 11.8% of adults 65 or older
- Those reporting a significant negative impact on mental health due to the pandemic:
--- Among all respondents: 14.2%
--- Those with any mental health disorder: 43%
--- Those with serious mental health disorders: Data not sufficient
The majority of U.S. adults between the ages of 50 and 80 in January of 2021 perceived their mental health as being as good or better than, it was 20 years ago, according to a survey from the National Poll of Healthy Aging. Still, nearly half of this age group reported feeling stressed and isolated from others. Mental health conditions may be treatable and manageable with the right support, but nearly one in three older adults said they would have some hesitation about seeking mental health care in the future.
Women, lower-income earners, and those with worse physical health experienced mental illness symptoms more often.
During the first six months of the pandemic, workers aged 55 and older were 17% more likely to get laid off than their younger colleagues. This put a burden on financial security during retirement and the loss of benefits necessary during this stage of life.
This story originally appeared on Sidecar Health and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
