Photo by Emily Underworld on Unsplash
The US has observed National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month every July since 2008. To be more specific, the official name of the month is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Bebe Moore Campbell was a mental health advocate who raised awareness on the mental health needs of the Black community. This shows the impact an advocate can have in sharing information about mental health among minorities.
Psychologist Nathaniel Branden said, “The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” We know that millions of Americans are living with a mental health condition. It is a challenging situation, under the best of living conditions. Depending on background and identity, access to mental health treatment can become much more difficult. In many minority communities in America, there is less access to health care, lower quality care, and a stigma on getting mental health help. Many of us are not aware of the reality minorities are dealing with related to mental health.
You Are Not Alone
According to the National Institute on Mental Health, one in five adults in the U.S. has a mental health condition. In other words, it can happen to anyone, but minority groups are more likely to experience risk factors that contribute to mental health disorders. It’s really important that adults with mental health conditions reach out for help and support. Therefore, there needs to be help and support there (and available) for anyone to get help. This July, the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) is amplifying the message of “You Are Not Alone.” NAMI is acknowledging that it’s ok to NOT be ok.
It’s important that the country moves towards acceptance, and actions are taken where anyone who is impacted by mental illness—regardless of their background, culture, or race—can get the support they need for a quality life, to live a healthy life. To not feel alone. However, America’s mental system needs improvement, especially in communities of minority populations. Mental health conditions can happen to anyone, regardless of a person’s color, culture, or identity. Receiving care is critical. Without treatment, mental health conditions can worsen.
Awareness Comes First
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) states that American Indian/Alaska Native populations have disproportionately higher rates of mental health problems. Black Americans have similar rates. For instance, the APA states that among adults with any mental illness in 2015, 48 percent of whites received mental health services, compared to 22 percent of Asian Americans and 31 percent of Black and Hispanic Americans.
Showing you care to people with mental health issues can have a life-changing effect. It is becoming increasingly important that we check in with our loved ones, coworkers, community members, and ourselves. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. We need to treat each one, and there are steps that need to be taken to do so. In addition, everyone who needs mental health treatment deserves access to quality care. With awareness around mental health among minorities, we expect acceptance next, and the need to serve and support minority populations to get the treatment they need.
Physical and Mental Health
It was in July that Simone Biles, the American gymnast, decided to withdraw from the Olympic finals to focus on her mental health. She was becoming concerned for her own mental health and decided to drop out after one of her competition events didn’t go as she had hoped. She said, “we have to protect our mind and our body.” Simone knew her limits, acknowledged them, and put her health first. This sets a powerful example. There has been a great deal of support for Simone. There has definitely been criticism of her as well, and that illustrates that there is more education and awareness needed.
One of the positive elements of her decision is to help break the stigma and solidify the link between mental and physical health. Professional sports and athletes are highly visible in the public eye. And there are Olympians and athletes who are now opening up about their own struggles with mental health. It is a positive sign that with these public figures sharing openly, that the social and self stigma will slowly start to decrease, and people will gain more understanding. This is especially imperative in the case of minorities in the US. Talking about it, and gaining knowledge about mental health, will hopefully lead to people getting treatment.
Community Series – Mental Health Book Club: What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey
