Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, color, gender or identity. Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness regardless of their background. However, background and identity can make access to mental health treatment much more difficult. National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness in the United States.
Americans in minority communities often suffer from poor mental health outcomes due to lack of access to health care, lower rates of medical coverage, cultural stigma surrounding mental health care, bias and discrimination in the delivery of care, language barriers and overall lack of awareness about mental health. According to the American Psychiatric Association, people from racial/ethnic minority groups are less likely to receive mental health care. For example, in 2015, among adults with any mental illness, 48% of whites received mental health services, compared with 31% of blacks and Hispanics, and 22% of Asians.
“It is important to recognize mental health issues in disadvantaged or minority communities,” explains William Holmes, Manager of Behavioral Health Services at McLaren Port Huron. “We encourage our patients to play a strong role in their recovery process. This includes working together with your mental health provider to integrate your culture into your treatment plan.”
For more information about Behavioral Health Inpatient and Emergency Psychiatric Services at McLaren Port Huron, visit our website or call us at (810) 989-3159.