Minority Mental Health
By: Michelle Lin
Mental health is crucial for our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, impacting many aspects of our lives including our thoughts, actions, emotions, stress management, and relationships. More than one out of five adults in the United States live with one or more diagnosable mental health issues. Unfortunately, access to mental health care is unequal across racial and ethnic minority groups.
Factors such as cost, insurance, stigma, and lack of culturally appropriate providers are all major causes of mental health inequality. Additionally, ethnic minorities often endure and witness racism throughout their lives, leading to significant psychological distress over time. The death of George Floyd brought to light the systemic racism and injustice that Black Americans have endured for centuries. In the wake of such recurring and distressing events, Black Americans frequently live in fear for their safety and that of their loved ones on a daily basis. Furthermore, there has been a surge in anti-Asian hate crimes fueled by harmful rhetoric blaming Asian people for the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021 alone, hate crimes targeting Asians increased by over 100%, exposing many Asian Americans to violence, threats, racial slurs, and other forms of racism. These examples highlight some, though not all, dimensions of minority mental health inequality.
Throughout various cultures, many minorities are raised with the stigma that having mental health struggles is a sign of weakness, and seeking help is only for the people facing extreme conditions. In Black and Latinx communities, people often seek faith-based support in replacement of professional mental health care. This is further perpetuated by underrepresentation in mental health services due to the lack of diversity in mental health providers.
Ways to Help
Education: Learn more about mental health and intersectionality, as well as implicit biases and microaggressions.
Community Engagement: Share more information on diversity in mental health, including advocating for diversity in the workspace and creating safe spaces where BIPOC individuals can feel comfortable sharing their experience.
Help Destigmatize: Encourage open discussions about mental health in minority communities using non-stigmatizing language.
Promoting Minority Rights: Advocate for policy change, support BIPOC businesses and contributing to BIPOC organizations, as well as amplifying BIPOC voices through social media and personal networks.
Self Care for Minorities
If the news starts becoming too overwhelming, take a break from social media and news outlets to protect your emotional wellbeing.
Schedule moments to relax, such as taking a walk, calling a friend, practicing mindfulness, and doing your hobbies.
Connecting with friends, family, or people facing similar challenges helps with feelings of isolation, providing emotional support and understanding.
Seeking professional help from therapists with the cultural competence to support you.
Practice self-compassion by allowing yourself to feel all emotions, including anger, sadness, and frustration.
Minority mental health is a complex topic since all minorities across different cultures, different socio-econimic statuses, different families, and different individuals are all uniquely nuanced, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, by collectively addressing these issues with empathy, awareness, and actionable steps, we can strive towards a future where mental health equity is a reality for all.
