THE CAUSE: Highlighting racial disparities in diagnosis and treatment of mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month via Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) who remove the barriers that Black people experience getting access to or staying connected with emotional health care.
THE CHALLENGE: For every 20 minutes of activity tracked between 5/15/23 and 5/29/23, we will donate $1 to BEAM. This challenge ends at 11:59 PM EST on 5/29/23. Submissions will be accepted until 6/1/2023 at 11:59 PM EST.
THE WHY: It’s Mental Health Awareness Month and this is yet another area where racial disparities in access and outcomes persist. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people from racial and ethnic minority groups are less likely to receive mental health care, less likely to receive needed services, and more likely to receive poor quality care when they do receive services.
Black Americans are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population, but only 1 in 3 Black Americans who need mental health care receive it. Additionally, studies have shown that Black Americans are more likely to be misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed with mental health conditions than white Americans. Similarly, Hispanic and Latinx individuals are less likely to receive mental health treatment than non-Hispanic white individuals, leading to higher rates of suicide attempts and completed suicides. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders also face disparities in mental health care access and may not receive culturally responsive care that addresses their unique needs.
Addressing these disparities and ensuring that all individuals have access to high-quality mental health care regardless of their race or ethnicity is important. Addressing these disparities requires increasing access to mental health services, promoting culturally responsive care, and addressing systemic racism and discrimination in the healthcare system. Mental health is a vital component of overall health and well-being. Everyone deserves care that meets their needs, and eliminating racial disparities can promote healthier lives.
American Psychiatric Association. (2017). Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/cultural-competency/education/mental-health-facts
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2019). African American Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Black-African-American
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2020). Diverse Communities. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Diverse-Communities
National Institute of Mental Health. (2019). Mental Health Disparities: American Indians and Alaska Natives. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/mental-health-disparities-american-indians-and-alaska-natives/index.shtml
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt29393/2019NSDUHDetailedTabs1-4.pdf
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/NSDUHNationalFindingsReport2018/NSDUHNationalFindingsReport2018.pdf
Williams, D. R., & Mohammed, S. A. (2013). Racism and health I: Pathways and scientific evidence. American Behavioral Scientist, 57(8), 1152-1173. doi: 10.1177/0002764213487340