Minority Mental Health
Submitted by Heather Pullen, Richard Hall Community Health and Wellness Center
There are about 7 million Black and African- Americans living with mental illness in the United States today and about one in three individuals will receive the treatment that is needed. Minority Mental Health month raises awareness and highlights some of the barriers faced to receiving treatment. Members of this community in particular, minorities, are at a disproportionately higher rate of receiving inadequate healthcare and mental health services. Systemic racism, historical barriers, and inequities have left ethnic, racial and minority populations facing trauma, loss, bias, social disparities, and other unique challenges that have gone unsupported and largely unaddressed. There is a high amount of stigma associated with mental health for communities of color in the US. “According to a recent survey, 63% of African American people in the United States believe that poor mental health is a stigma of personal weakness, these attitudes are most prevalent among black men” (NAMI, 2022).
Other variables that impact access to mental health care include discrimination and lack of public awareness regarding mental health and mental health services. Homelessness is also associated with poorer mental health and can lead to psychiatric distress and diminish recovery from serious mental illness. Much of the homeless population is affected by mental health concerns and continues to be a rising issue. African Americans with any kind of mental health issue have diminished rates of mental health services including prescription services and outpatient mental health, but an increased use of inpatient mental health hospitalizations. The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development states that African Americans have higher disproportionate rates of homelessness among the U.S. population. In the Hispanic/Latino population there is vulnerability toward mental illness and homelessness as well. More than 50% of Hispanic young adults ages 18-25 with serious mental illness may not get treatment and about 34% of Latino adults with mental illness get to be treated. There are different barriers such as language and stigma which make mental health treatment difficult if services are not available in the language that they speak. Also 16% of the Hispanic populations live in poverty making them more vulnerable to mental health issues and homelessness. By continuing to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and improve access to culturally responsive care, we can help ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to receive the mental health support they need and deserve.
References
2017 Psychiatry.Org/American Psychiatric Association/Mental Health Disparities: African Americans/American Psychiatric Association.
NAMI, Your Journey, Identity and Cultural Dimension, Hispanic Latinx, 2022.
Andrew Fraielli, August 12, 2020, The Homeless Voice.
“Home: Nami: National Alliance on Mental Illness.” NAMI, Minority Mental Health, 2022 https://www.nami.org/Home.
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, substance use or gambling challenges, please call our ACCESS Center at 908-253-3165. If this is a psychiatric emergency call PESS at 908-526-4100 OR
CALL the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 to talk to a counselor 24/7/365
