Diminished access to mental health care is one of the many ways systemic racism has affected the Black community — but things are starting to change.
Even in discussions about the effects of health care inequity and inequality on Black communities, the topic of Black mental health is often overlooked.
Not only is this overlooked, but when Black people speak out and seek help, there are significant barriers to accessing the mental health care they need.
So how can we raise awareness about something so vital to the health and happiness of Black communities in this country and around the world? And what can we do to change the conversation around Black mental health – to identify these barriers and promote equity in mental health care for people around the world?
We’ll then speak with experts about the importance of Black mental health, including how to create real change that benefits all members of Black communities.
Our “health” encompasses everything about us, from the well-being of our body to our emotional state and much more. But while we often think of health through a primarily physical lens, the reality is that our mental health is just as integral to our overall sense of well-being.
“Mental health is an extremely important factor for a fulfilling life. And having good mental health means having a better quality of life and better satisfaction in one’s general being. Dr. Francesca K. OwooLCPC, LMHC, a licensed therapist who specializes in helping BIPOC couples and families overcome chronic illnesses, told Healthline.
“Mental wellness should always be a priority to ensure that everyone can experience stability and well-being in their lives,” says Owoo.
But in BIPOC communities in the United States, particularly in Black communities, factors such as racism, oppression, and trauma can seriously affect a person’s mental well-being and contribute to huge disparities in rates of mental illness.
“Mental illness is a pervasive problem in the African American community, with many negative social and economic impacts,” says Owoo. She states that factors driving mental health disparities among African Americans include:
- distrust of the medical system
- institutionalized racism and oppression
- trauma caused by racism and violence
- health care inequalities
- lack of access to quality mental health care
- cultural competency gaps between providers
- lack of diverse mental health professionals
- the common stigma associated with seeking help within the black community
While all of these can compound mental health factors for the Black community, we must be clear that Black people suffer from mental health issues at similar rates to other racial groups. However, when they do, Black people tend to have a much harder time accessing the resources needed to care for them.
While it is important to recognize the factors that contribute to health care disparities, it is equally important to understand how these issues can affect access to mental health treatment.
“These issues create significant barriers to needed mental health services for African Americans,” Owoo says.
In fact, research has shown that these factors can affect everything from perceived stigma during visits to overall treatment satisfaction among Black people accessing health services.
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- An interconnected oppression: This is when oppression outside of healthcare systems affects how a person expects to be treated during healthcare-related experiences.
- Double discrimination: This happens when people face multiple forms of discrimination (such as being black and having a mental health condition) that result in significant barriers to accessing care.
- Institutional distrust: This situation, stemming from personal and historical experiences, creates distrust of the medical system and fear of the potential consequences of seeking mental health care.
- Microaggressions: Subtle interactions or behaviors which contribute to the stigmatization of marginalized communities, which can appear in health care experiences and deter people from obtaining appropriate care.
Many of these factors make it difficult (if not impossible) for members of the Black community to seek treatment or receive the level of care they need.
The data of American Psychological Association (APA) in 2021 showed that only 5.08% of psychology staff were black, compared to 80.85% white.
According to Owoo, this disparity is likely due to the same factors that prevent members of the Black community from accessing mental health care.
“With mental illness having a profound impact on the Black community, but not having access to therapists who understand their culture, history and experiences, it is important to break the stigma surrounding mental health and increase visibility black professionals in the field. » said Owoo.
“By having more Black therapists available, clients are able to talk openly about their concerns in an environment that feels safe and familiar,” she adds.
“In order to provide culturally competent care, steps must be taken to address racism and discrimination within academia, as well as increased awareness in the field so that more African Americans are exposed and can choose a career in therapy,” she continues.
Additionally, the high costs of earning a graduate degree can leave students burdened with considerable debt. The process of becoming licensed to practice therapy also takes an extended period of time and may require you to complete an unpaid internship.
This prevents many people from pursuing a therapeutic profession, and for those who do, it may limit their employment choices later because they will have to repay their student loans.
“When considering the impact of mental illness on African Americans, we cannot ignore how centuries of systemic racism and oppression have exacerbated the effects of mental illness on the population,” says Owoo .
And just look as far back as the recent Covid-19 pandemic – and the social situations that have arisen and continue to arise – to see the effects.
“COVID-19 has further increased rates of anxiety and depression among African Americanswhile racial trauma is leading to an alarming increase in PTSD cases,” she explains.
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“This intersection between race and mental health also has additional social, economic and psychological impact on black communities, with higher suicide rates, particularly among African American youth,” says Owoo.
Because the black community is often disappointed with clinical care, many social and religious groups stepped in to try to bridge the gap between their friends and family members.
Black communities have long felt the psychological, social, and economic effects of health care disparities – disparities that continue to exist in all areas of the health care experience, including mental health treatment.
As we continue to address these disparities and work toward health care equity for all, it is critical that we not overlook the importance of equity in Black mental health care as well .
