Although July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in America, it is important to recognize the problems that marginalized populations experience when it comes to mental health stigma and treatment on a daily basis, not just in America, but around the world. According to Mental Health America, the word “minority” includes racial, ethnic, and cultural minorities in the United States, as well as any underrepresented community, such as individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, refugee and immigrant communities, religious groups, and many more. Despite the gains that have been made for these people, the unpleasant truth remains that gaps in mental health care and awareness still exist for minority populations. Racial and ethnic minority groups are less likely to be exposed to mental health treatments, increasing their chances of going without or receiving poor quality care. Without effective treatment, these variables contribute to an elevated risk of poor mental health outcomes in minority communities. This blog post is aimed to create awareness on how to address and act upon minority mental health, and how you can help raise awareness.
When a person of a minority population suffers from a mental health problem, they may confront access to care concerns, or even hide their mental health issues as a result of the stigma around them. Unfortunately, people of minority groups are more likely to experience barriers to care than members of the general population. One of these difficulties is the cost of medical treatment. Members of minority groups are often less likely to have health insurance, and in many circumstances, they lack the financial resources to pursue private pay choices. Additionally, according to various amounts and sources of research, racial and sexual minority groups have greater rates of anxiety, sadness, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health illnesses. This can be attributed to society’s ingrained bias against such marginalised minority groups. Many of these communities experience emotions of rejection, alienation, and harassment as a result of this.
How can you help? Make a point of emphasizing the significance of a culturally responsive provider. Your views and values are included into treatment by these mental health specialists. You may need to conduct extensive research to discover a supplier who does this. You may ask reliable friends and relatives for recommendations, as well as cultural groups in your town, in addition to looking online. You can also be there for a person to seek comfort, where knowing that a person is not alone when experiencing symptoms of mental illness is one of the most useful and reassuring sensations. It may be immensely helpful to know that someone else is experiencing similar difficulties as you are right now, regardless of where they’re from, what they are like, or how they identify.
It is so important to educate ourselves on minority mental health-related issues to be able to properly address them and start the advocacy to make a change for minority groups. Every living being should have adequate and appropriate access to care for mental well-being, and be treated just as the general population would be. Do your part this month to help raise awareness, and continue to do so until there is equity and equality for all.
The information provided in this blog is not professional medical advice and should not be taken as such. If you find yourself or someone around you that needs assistance, please seek help from a local medical professional.
