Mental Health and Minorities

When we think of health, sometimes people assume this refers only to physical health. Often, mental health is brushed aside. It doesn’t help that society and the media sometimes portray mental issues as outliers — when in fact, at some point everyone experiences mental health challenges. Whether people get help is another issue.

Overcoming Perceived Stigma

There’s often a misconception, especially with men, that people seeking emotional support are weak. I’m here to tell you that getting support does not mean you are weak. It means you are brave. Reaching out to others means you are brave enough to recognize you need support. You are brave enough to not care what others may think in order to improve the situation for you and your loved ones. You are brave enough to know that holding things in and not dealing with root issues leaves problems unresolved.

More people today, whether it’s a celebrity like Prince Harry or the neighbor next door, are sharing their personal experiences. This helps to take away the silence and stigma that has often existed in the past. There is no shame in acknowledging a need for emotional support. Mental health challenges are a normal part of being human.

Racial/Ethnic Factors

Racial/Ethnic culture can affect discussion and behaviors regarding mental health issues. Some cultures are not as open about discussing these matters. Often, this leads to denial.

An Asian-American friend once told me that when she suffered postpartum depression, her mother-in-law accused her of faking it in order to get attention. Even when a doctor pointed out that postpartum depression was real, the mother-in-law replied, “Asian people don’t have mental problems.” It’s attitudes like these that often keep people silent who may need help.

It’s not just friends and family who may not understand an individual’s mental wellness needs. While mental illness is colorblind, recent studies found that the lack of cultural understanding by health care providers may contribute to underdiagnosis and/or misdiagnosis of mental illness in ethnic minorities. People from ethnic minority groups are also less likely to receive mental health care.

Mental Health Disparities in Diverse Populations

The American Psychiatric Association states the following:

• By 2044, more than half of all Americans are projected to belong to a minority group
• Approximately 18% of US adults have a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, and approximately 4% of adults have a serious mental illness
• Most racial/ethnic minority groups overall have similar mental disorders
• Although rates of depression are lower in blacks (24.6%) and Hispanics (19.6%) than in whites (34.7%), depression in blacks and Hispanics are likely to be more persistent
• People who identify as being two or more races (24.9%) are most likely to report any mental illness within the past year than any other race/ethnic group, followed by American Indian/Alaska Natives (22.7%), white (19%), and black (16.8%)
• American Indians/Alaskan Natives report higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence than any other ethnic/ racial group
• White Americans are more likely to die by suicide than people of other ethnic/racial groups
• Lack of cultural understanding by health care providers may contribute to underdiagnosis and/or misdiagnosis of mental illness in people from racially/ethnically diverse populations
• People from racial/ethnic minority groups are less likely to receive mental health care. For example, in 2015, among adults with any mental illness, 48% of whites received mental health services, compared with 31% of blacks and Hispanics, and 22% of Asians

A study on Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mental Illness reveals the following:

• Asian-Americans reported higher levels of self-stigma (with respect to feeling inferior to others who have not had a mental health problem) and were less hopeful than whites that individuals with mental health problems could be contributing members of society.
• Latinos interviewed in English also experienced higher levels of self-stigma (with respect to feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and not being understood because of a mental health problem) and were more likely to say that they would conceal a potential mental health problem from coworkers or classmates than whites.
• Although Latinos interviewed in Spanish reported lower levels of stigma in a number of respects compared with whites, they were the least likely to have used mental health services of all the racial/ethnic groups included in the study.
• Racial and ethnic minorities are significantly more likely than whites to delay or forego needed mental health care, and, if they do seek treatment, they are more likely than whites to drop out.

The infographic below provides a visual summary of key facts about mental health and minorities.

How to Get Help

Remember, getting help is an act of bravery, not weakness. The first step is to find resources.

• If you have health insurance, find out what mental health services it covers. You can also search for practitioners in your area who accept your insurance. If a practitioner doesn’t call you back, reach out to others. Based on experience, some practitioners may accept insurance but prefer private payment since they can earn more money this way. As a result, some may not respond to your request for information. Just be persistent and keep calling others. There are indeed health professionals out there who accept insurance and are willing to take on insured clients.
• Access help online from the comfort and convenience of your own home. One such company who provides this service is Larkr, who believes that everyone should be able to access mental health care services regardless of their location, income or racial/ethnic background. The company offers several payment options at rates that are typically much less than private practice health professionals. Clients can meet with health professionals via video calls, phone calls, and more.
• Ask for recommendations from friends, family, doctors, and health clinics.

Your mental health if your priority. It’s okay to get help. It’s okay to ignore people who judge you for getting help. They’re not living your life…you are. And you need to do what’s best for you.