Let's Talk About Minority Mental Health
As hard as it is for anyone to get proper mental health care in the United States, it's even harder for racial, ethnic, religious and gender minorities. Not only are there the problems most of us experience — issues with insurance, long wait times, difficulty finding specialists and co-pays — but there are added burdens of access and quality-of-care.
While the term "minority" is traditionally associated with racial, ethnic or cultural minorities, we need to expand this term to include those who may identify as part of the LGBTQ+ spectrum, refugee and immigrant groups, religious groups and others who are often overlooked. Taking on the challenges of mental health conditions, health coverage and the stigma of mental illness requires all of us.
There are many reasons why minorities aren't getting proper care. Here are some of them:
- A lack of availability
- Transportation issues, difficulty finding childcare/taking time off work
- The belief that mental health treatment "doesn't work"
- The high level of mental health stigma in minority populations
- A mental health system weighted heavily toward non-minority values and culture norms
- Racism, bias and discrimination in treatment settings
- Language barriers and an insufficient number of providers who speak languages other than English
- A lack of adequate health insurance coverage (and even for people with insurance, high deductibles and co-pays make it difficult to afford)
From 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, in LA 340, WCC Counseling will host a viewing of the "Strength over Silence" docuseries. The series focuses on the courageous stories of mental health champions sharing their lived experiences. Come listen to these champions and learn about the services available to support minority student mental health.