Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: Why is it Important?
Mental health symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, and PTSD affect members of all racial, ethnic, and sexual orientation/identity communities at similar rates; however, for individuals who are not a part of what would be considered the “majority” community in Alabama (“majority” meaning white, heterosexual, and Christian), these mental health symptoms can have a disproportionately significant, negative effect. There are several reasons that mental health-related suffering is often more pronounced in minority communities. In this blog post, we will give an overview of some of those reasons.
It is important to note two facts as we discuss the different experiences of mental health symptoms between different communities in Alabama. First, the discussion of hardships that minority communities encounter does not mean that individuals who are in the “majority” don’t face these obstacles, as well. To suggest otherwise would be to ignore the very real suffering experienced by these individuals regardless of their “majority” status. Particularly in the state of Alabama, and especially for individuals who don’t live close to the larger cities of Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and Mobile, access to quality mental healthcare is significantly harder to find than it is in states in other parts of the country. Alabamians report having some of the country’s highest rates of mental health symptoms; however, Alabama has one of the lowest rates of access to quality mental healthcare. This affects members of every cultural community; however, those who are members of minority communities, such as Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) or lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBTQIA+) also face added obstacles to care that can make their experience of mental health symptoms even more difficult. Second, it is important to note that when we discuss minority communities, we cannot assume that all members of a certain community are exactly the same. Some of the topics we will cover will not be true for every member of a given community, they are simply trends found over time.
Cultural Values
In general, when we refer to cultural values and practices, it is a good thing. Differences in cultural values and practices are part of what make each community special. However, on occasion, cultural beliefs that are often accepted in a certain community can cause harm to that community’s members, and there are two in particular that are often reported by members of various BIPOC communities: the belief that mental health problems aren’t “real”, and the belief that mental health problems are shameful and should be kept secret. Again, not ALL members of minority communities support these values; however, these beliefs are common-enough that members of minority communities do often point to them as reasons for not seeking mental healthcare when they need it.
Disparities in Access to Care
Although members of the majority community certainly face struggles such as poverty, lack of transportation, and lack of work flexibility that would allow them to access quality mental healthcare (for example, the ability to take paid sick leave from work), these struggles affect members of minority communities far more often than they do members of the majority. Members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities are more likely to live below the poverty line, financially making access to quality care less likely for them. They are less likely to have access to reliable transportation and are more likely to work in jobs that do not allow them time off for healthcare appointments. BIPOC individuals are also more likely to live in rural areas—that is, not close to Alabama’s larger cities, such as Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, or Mobile—where there are far fewer mental health providers available to see them. When a person faces one of these obstacles, they are less likely to receive quality mental healthcare; when they face multiple obstacles, receiving the care they need becomes just about impossible.
Systemic Racism and Generational Trauma
Members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities often report feeling unwelcome and unwanted by healthcare professionals when they do seek care. Although no one likes to think of themselves as someone who engages in racist behavior, oftentimes well-meaning individuals can be unaware of their unconscious biases and how they affect others around them. For example, there is robust evidence supporting the common bias in healthcare against validating Black women’s report of pain. When Black women report experiencing pain to healthcare providers, they are significantly more likely to have these reports minimized or dismissed when compared to white women’s reports of pain. This has led to catastrophic outcomes for many Black women who sought help but ultimately had dangerous or deadly health events that could have been prevented if healthcare providers had not dismissed their report of pain. Sadly, there are many, many accounts of neglect and deliberate harm being done to members of minority communities at the hands of healthcare providers (for example, the Tuskegee syphilis study of 1932 which led to the deaths of more than 100 men in Alabama; and more recently, “gay conversion therapy” which has harmed many LGBTQIA+ individuals and been linked with a dramatic risk for suicide among LGBTQIA+ youth), and these accounts are well-known to members of minority communities, who understandably view healthcare providers, especially those who are members of the majority, with some degree of suspicion. This can make it less likely for these individuals to seek care when they need it.
What can we do about it?
These obstacles to care can seem overwhelming and insurmountable. However, if we choose to, each of us can play a role in addressing them. Here are some of the ways that Upward Behavioral Health is finding a way to be part of the solution.
Practicing Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
As members of the majority community, we seek ways to support and ally with minority communities both professionally and personally. It is human nature to gravitate toward others who look and think like us, so deliberate, sustained effort must be made to connect with others who are not in our immediate circle. We must also be willing to openly and consistently discuss topics related to unconscious, systemic bias and seek training and consultation to identify and address these issues when they inevitably come up. Rather than pretending that we don’t see the differences between ourselves and others, we work to meaningfully acknowledge, affirm, and celebrate these differences, and to constantly advance our knowledge of other communities’ ways of life and the individual differences of the people who make up those communities.
Easy-to-Use Telehealth Treatment Opportunities
Many Alabamians, including many members of minority communities, live far outside Upward’s office in Vestavia Hills. We know that access to quality mental healthcare can be quite limited in the more rural areas of Alabama. Upward offers a wide array of mental healthcare treatments through telehealth. Although some may worry that they won’t be able to navigate the telehealth platform, we have tested it with several clients who are older and have very limited experience with technology and we are happy to report that it has worked perfectly each time with these clients! No matter where you live in Alabama, we want quality mental healthcare to be an option regardless of location or access to transportation.
If minority mental healthcare is of interest to you and you’d like to learn more, we recommend visiting the Food & Drug Administration’s page on the topic here.