It might be something that’s celebrated state-side, but National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month raises critical awareness of mental health inequity all over the globe.
As mental health professionals, we’re deeply committed to supporting every person who walks through our doors, but undeniably, there are cultures and minorities who experience greater stigma than most when it comes to their mental health. This can make it hard to open up, seek help, and confide in others – which is a lonely place to be.
The History of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was established in honour of the efforts of American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell (1950 – 2006). After experiencing a family member’s struggle with mental illness, Campbell felt driven to shine a light on the unique challenges facing racial and ethnic minorities with regards to their mental health.
In announcing July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives also recognized that:
· Improved access to mental health treatment and services and public awareness of mental illness are of paramount importance.
· There is an important need for improved access to care, treatment, and services for those diagnosed with severe and persistent mental health disorders and improved public awareness of mental illness.
Why National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Matters
Racial and ethnic minorities are often at a disadvantage when it comes to their mental health owing to a number of challenges – including discrimination, cultural stigma surrounding mental illness, a lack of access to quality mental health care services, and a lack of awareness about mental health issues.
In fact, a survey of over 14,000 adults from mental health charity Mind revealed that existing inequalities in housing, employment, finances and other issues had a greater impact on the mental health of people from different Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) groups than white people during the pandemic.
Furthermore, a systematic review from BMC Public Health clearly illustrated that racial minorities showed more stigma than racial majorities for common mental disorders, while the Mental Health Foundation found that:
Black men are more likely to have experienced a psychotic disorder in the last year than white men;
Black people are four times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than white people;
Older South Asian women are an at-risk group for suicide;
Refugees and asylum seekers are more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population, including higher rates of depression, anxiety and PTSD.
And in America, where National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month originated, it’s estimated that in 2021, only 39% of Black or African American adults, 25% of Asian adults, and 36% of Hispanic/Latino adults with any mental illness were treated, compared to 52% of non-Hispanic white adults.
How You Can Better Support Minority Clients
Understanding is key.
Racial and cultural minorities may have experienced racism – ranging from micro-aggressions (subtle but offensive comments), to verbal or physical aggression – for most of their lives. Any experience of racism, however recent or long ago, can have a profound impact on mental health and wellbeing, and even increase the likelihood of developing conditions such as psychosis or depression.
People from BAME communities also face social and economic inequalities – including increased unemployment, poverty and homelessness, whilst also doing less well at school, being in contact with the criminal justice system, and facing challenges accessing services; all of which can increase the likelihood of developing mental health problems.
If you’re working with a client from a BAME community then, you need to be aware of the different struggles they may have faced; it’s also important to develop an understanding of how different communities approach mental health. In some communities, mental illness is rarely spoken about – or even recognised. Clients may come to you with feelings of shame or embarrassment, and it’s your job to encourage them to open up, make them feel safe, and help to abolish a sense of stigma.
We should all have equitable access to mental health treatment, but certain minorities face very real barriers. People from a BAME community may not recognise that they have a mental illness because of how little mental health is talked about; they may not know what help is available, or face financial barriers to care; they may also worry that white professionals won’t be able to understand their experience of racism and discrimination.
If you want to help in overcoming these challenges, think carefully about how to reach people in the BAME community. Make your services transparent and accessible, and if you’re not part of a racial or cultural minority, put in the work so that you can develop an understanding of what minority clients may be going through.
We all deserve good mental health, and nobody should be at a disadvantage. Don’t you agree?
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