July is recognized as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, marking a time to spotlight the unique struggles underrepresented groups face regarding mental health in America. Besides raising awareness, the goal for this month is to improve access to mental health treatment and services for minority populations often influenced by significant barriers.
Mental health impacts the way we think, feel, and act. It also affects our decisions, how we relate to others, and how we cope with difficult and stressful situations. Daily struggles can disrupt your life and affect your mental health, putting obstacles in the activities mentioned before, such as relationships, decision-making, and self-awareness. This is a common human issue; everyone should have the right to access help to be heard and healed without shame or judgment.
Minority Mental Health Inequity
Discrimination worsens health and healthcare inequalities for individuals from marginalized racial and ethnic communities. Inequity results in a lack of access to quality, affordable care and can lead to prolonged and unnecessary illness. This is especially true for people with a mental illness or substance use disorder.
Some studies have shown that minority groups present higher levels of anxiety, depression, suicidal tendencies, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health disorders. In most cases, society’s prejudice toward these groups is a major cause of feelings of rejection, estrangement, and harassment. Immigration status, economic conditions, education levels, and access to public health benefits are just a few differences that can adversely impact the experiences of various ethnic groups when searching for mental health care in the U.S.
Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity, a research comparing mental health care across groups, has found evidence of disparities in access and use. Racial and ethnic minorities have less access to mental health services, are less likely to receive needed care, and are more likely to receive poor-quality care when treated. Minorities in the United States are more likely to delay or fail to seek mental health treatment. After entering care, minority patients are less likely to receive the best available treatments for depression and anxiety. African Americans are more likely to terminate treatment prematurely. Among adults with a diagnosis-based need for mental health or substance abuse care, 37.6% are white, but only 22.4% of Latinos and 25.0% of African Americans receive treatment.
Risk Factors
In 2020, fewer than one in every two African American adults got care for mental health. In 2018, Asian Americans were 60 percent less likely to receive mental health treatment than non-Hispanic whites. For many, obstacles include difficulty in accessing mental health care. This can be attributed to various reasons including the cost of care or not having adequate health insurance coverage.
Finding mental health care providers who share the same racial or ethnic backgrounds can be challenging, which may limit the cultural understanding and effectiveness of the treatment offered. Another significant risk factor is the stigma or negative perceptions surrounding mental health care within these communities. This stigma can prevent individuals from seeking the help they need, exacerbating the prevalence of mental health issues without adequate support or treatment.
Additionally, poverty and the stress associated with socioeconomic disadvantages can negatively affect mental health status, particularly among African Americans. The overall suicide rate for African Americans was reported to be 60% lower than that of the non-Hispanic white population in 2018, yet black females were 60% more likely to attempt suicide in 2019 when compared to non-Hispanic white females of the same age group. This discrepancy highlights how socioeconomic factors, alongside racial and ethnic discrimination, can significantly affect the mental well-being of minorities.
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Historical Significance
The designation of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was inspired by Bebe Moore Campbell, an African American author, advocate, and co-founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI Urban Los Angeles, who fearlessly challenged the status quo and worked to shed light on the mental health needs of the minority community.
According to NAMI, Bebe Moore Campbell was committed to creating safe spaces for people in communities of color to share their stories and experiences without shame or judgment and connect with others who share similar experiences and cultural backgrounds. She advocated for spaces of hope and healing where the unheard and untreated could find inclusive and equitable resources for support and mental health care.
In 2008, July was declared as Bebe Moore Campbell Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. The resolution aims to achieve two goals:
- Improve access to mental health treatment and services and promote public awareness of mental illness.
- Enhance public awareness of mental illness among underserved communities.
Our Role
We all have a role in promoting mental health care equity for individuals from racial and ethnic minorities. Here are some recommendations from the CDC:
- Learn about mental health
- Practice healthy ways to cope with stress and loss responses
- Share mental health information and resources with family, friends, and others in your community
- Use non-stigmatizing language
- Learn about implicit biases, microaggressions, and other discrimination forms to avoid them
At Maryvale, we’ve embraced Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to reach more individuals in marginalized racial and ethnic communities and provide them with dignified mental healthcare through our community-based services. With our Seton House program, we offer housing services for single moms, including education and mental health services, to help them focus on personal development while learning life skills to sustain a positive and productive lifestyle for themselves and their children.
Additionally, we are committed to providing information and referrals for any individual or family requesting assistance, whether they are kids, teens, or adults. We dedicate ourselves to a world where everyone, regardless of adversity, belief, background, or group, is valued, accepted, and given the opportunity to live fulfilling lives.
Events in the LA Area Celebrating Minority Mental Health Month
Bebe Moore Campbell’s National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month 2024
NAMI Urben LA is celebrating 21 years of mental health education, advocacy, and support of minority populations with this year’s theme: Building on Legacy: Empowering families and the next generation of mental health advocates. They have an event to honor the legacy of Bebe Moore Campbell with panel discussions, resources, performances, food, giveaways, and more on Saturday, Jul 27, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Sources
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity-A Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services; 2001.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/knowledge-and-news-women-owh-blog/national-minority-mental-health-awareness-month
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