Equity in Mental Healthcare
Having easy access to a healthcare provider, be it a family physician or an emergency room, can be convenient — and sometimes even lifesaving. Having access to the affordable treatment you need close to home can save you the hassle of having to take more time out of your day to travel out of town. The same goes for mental healthcare.
Minority populations in particular face unique hurdles in accessing high quality mental healthcare. Like rural populations, they may find receiving the care they need to be difficult due to various systemic and cultural circumstances. Learn more about equity in mental healthcare and how individuals can overcome these obstacles.
Inconsistencies in care
According to the American Psychological Association, an estimated 10 million Americans are diagnosed with a serious mental illness. The prevalence of a mental health condition is more prevalent in those reporting two or more races (7.5%), followed by American Indian/Alaskan Natives (4.9%), Hispanic (3.6%), Black Americans (3.1%), and Asian Americans (1.9%). However, a study in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities showed members of ethnic minorities with a mental health condition were less likely to receive treatment, which created additional challenges in addition to racial and ethnic prejudice and discrimination. The same study showed:
- Black Americans with a serious mental illness were more likely to live in poverty, be unemployed, and be arrested.
- Native Americans/Alaskan Natives with a serious or moderate mental illness were more likely to be in fair or poor health (on a scale of excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor).
- Latino persons with a serious or moderate mental illness were also more likely to live in poverty or be arrested.
Common disparities in mental healthcare for minority groups can include:
- Use of psychiatric emergency services rather than community support services
- Involuntary hospitalizations for those seeking care
- Emergency treatment because of interactions with law enforcement
- Over-diagnosis of schizophrenia
- Higher doses of anti-psychotic medications
- Less likely to receive interventions for depression
Racism plays a major factor in these disparities. Members of racial and ethnic minorities deal with firsthand experiences of racism and prejudice, which can cause stress and racial trauma — i.e., the effects of racism and prejudice on one’s mental and emotional well-being — and in turn worsen mental illnesses. Additionally, systemic racism — or policies and practices at an institutional level that contribute to unequal treatment or benefits between races — can contribute to unequal access to resources and services.
Lack of sufficient health insurance, racial or ethnic diversity among providers, and culturally competent providers can also restrict access to mental healthcare, as can financial burdens and societal stigmas . Studies have shown a greater prevalence of stigma in racial and ethnic minority groups, which can result in underutilization of care, compounded by social issues like poverty and gender in what researchers call the intersectional impact of stigma. For example, the same study showed Black women from low socio-economic backgrounds reported more stigma-based concerns and were less likely to seek treatment for mental health services compared to white women from the same area.
How to manage mental health conditions
Our community is better when all of us are better — not just some of us. Though institutional hurdles may remain a challenge, the Centers for Disease Control recommends several strategies individuals can take to improve mental health for themselves and those in their communities. These include:
- Learning healthy ways to manage stress and loss
- Seeking help through free, confidential services
- Sharing information and tips with family, friends, and neighbors
- Encouraging open and honest conversations about mental health and using non-stigmatizing language
- Learning about implicit bias, microaggressions, and other forms of discrimination
Help is here when you need it. Cathy Rigg, LCSW provides compassionate therapy and counseling services for individuals, families, and children at the Elmer Hugh Taylor Clinic, 100 W. 15th St. in Beardstown. To schedule an appointment, call (217) 323-2245. If you or anyone you know is suffering a mental health crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.