From Stigma to Support: Improving Mental Health in Minority Communities

July 23, 2024 -Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, color, gender or identity. Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness regardless of their background, however, people in some racial and ethnic minority groups face more challenges than others getting mental health care.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in five adults in the US live with a mental illness. Most mental illness goes untreated, especially in communities of color, and individuals identifying as being two or more races are most likely to report having a mental health disorder within the past year than any other race or ethnic group. Racial and ethnic minorities often suffer from poor mental health outcomes due to factors including:

• Lack of access to quality mental health care services
• Cultural stigma surrounding mental health care
• Discrimination
• Overall lack of awareness about mental health.
• Environmental factors like racial violence

Frank A. Ghinassi, senior vice president of Behavioral Health Services at RWJBarnabas Health and president and chief executive of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, emphasizes the importance of addressing these challenges: "Mental health issues are prevalent across all demographics, but systemic barriers and social determinants disproportionately affect minority communities. We must work collectively to break down these barriers to achieve mental health equity, and it is essential to support, educate, and advocate for minority mental health."

By working together, we can dismantle the barriers to mental health care for minority communities and create a more equitable society. Dr. Ghinassi shares ways that everyone can work together to achieve mental health equity:

• Learn about mental health: Learning what mental health conditions look like including warning signs and symptoms can help reduce some of the fear, misunderstanding, and judgment around them. Sharing this information from reliable sources with family, friends, colleagues or classmates can help reduce the stigma that people with mental health conditions face.
• Share information: Spread awareness about mental health, healthy coping skills, and available resources with family, friends, neighbors, and the broader community.
• Use non-stigmatizing language: Talking about mental health openly and without judgment can reduce stigma.
• Understand implicit bias: Recognize and address unintentional attitudes, behaviors, and actions that favor or discriminate against specific groups.
• Recognize microaggressions: Be aware of everyday slights, snubs, or insults that convey negative messages to marginalized groups, whether intentional or unintentional.
• Avoid discrimination: Make ongoing efforts to avoid implicit bias, microaggressions, and other forms of discrimination.

"Today, good mental health is achievable thanks to many forms of support," notes Ghinassi. "By supporting, educating, and advocating for minority mental health, we can create a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive."

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed in July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented communities face regarding mental illness in the United States. To connect with a top behavioral health specialist at RWJBarnabas, visit: rwjbh.org/behavioralhealth.