July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This month is meant to recognize the significant challenges faced by minority groups, affecting their mental health. More than 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. live with mental illness, and while these issues are both treatable and preventable, not everyone has access to the care and resources needed. By raising awareness, we can improve the inclusivity of mental health resources for these communities and work toward mental health equity.
Understanding Mental Health Disparities
Mental health disparities refer to the unequal distribution of mental health resources and services among different racial and ethnic groups. Studies have found that these minority communities face these inequalities even after controlling for other variables including income, insurance status, age, and symptom expression. They are more likely to experience challenges with their mental health and are less likely to seek or receive adequate care with socioeconomic status, cultural stigma, and inaccessibility contributing to the inequity. For example:
- 31% of White children with mental health problems receive mental health services while only 13% of children from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds do
- In 2020, 37.1%% of non-Hispanic Black adults received mental health services while 51.8% of non-Hispanic White adults received service.
- In 2020, 44.5% of non-Hispanic White adults received prescription medication for mental health and 27.5% of non-Hispanic Black adults received prescriptions for mental health concerns.
Key Mental Health Concerns in Minority Communities
The following are key concerns in different minority communities:
- Black and African Americans experience mental illness at a similar rate as the general population, but often receive a poorer quality of care due to the lack of culturally competent care and historic factors such as racial trauma and discrimination.
- Hispanics and Latinos often face unique stressors related to immigration and acculturation. They face inequity in socioeconomics, education, and a language barrier.
- Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders make up nearly 7.2% of the US population. 2.7 million AA/PIs have a mental and/or substance use disorder and 30% of the population is not fluent in English. The model minority myth, which creates pressure and poor mental health, is paired with a lack of understanding about mental health.
- LGBTQ+ individuals are more than twice as likely to have a mental disorder than heterosexual individuals are. These challenges may stem from stress, discrimination, and social isolation. Bisexual individuals, the largest segment of the LGBTQ+ community, are at an even more increased risk for mental health issues.
More information on mental health in each of these communities and more can be found here.
Breaking Barriers to Mental Health Care
To address mental health inequalities, it is essential to identify and overcome the barriers present and prevent access to care. Some barriers include:
- Cultural stigma and lack of culturally sensitive approaches
- Language barriers and lack of multilingual resources or interpretation services
- Lack of diversity and representation within the mental health profession
- Minimal telemedicine services, which would allow for a larger reach to underserved communities
Advocacy and awareness play a crucial role in breaking barriers and improving mental health outcomes for minority communities. Get involved by participating in mental health awareness campaigns locally and virtually, volunteer for organizations like helplines, community centers, or advocacy groups, and share your own story surrounding your mental health journey.
Resources on Minority Mental Health
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides educational resources, helplines, and support groups specifically tailored to diverse communities.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a 24/7 helpline that provides free, confidential treatment referrals and information on mental health and substance abuse.
- Therapy for Black Girls is an online platform which offers a directory of therapists specializing in supporting Black women’s mental health and provides valuable resources, including a podcast and blog.
- The Trevor Project is dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth, providing crisis intervention, suicide prevention services, and online chat and text support.
- Asian Mental Health Collective focuses on promoting mental health awareness and providing resources for Asian communities, including therapy referrals and educational materials.
- The Kaiser Family Foundation conducts research on various health-related topics, including mental health, and provides data on disparities in access to care.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers health statistics and data, including information on mental health disparities among different racial and ethnic groups.
It is crucial to promote healing, support, and equity in mental health, as your mental health should always be a priority. At Shannon Psychiatry, we believe in creating a future where everyone has equal access to quality mental healthcare. We offer convenient and personalized psychiatric treatment plans centered around your needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.