
The mental health crisis in the U.S. is not a new one—the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that one in five adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness. While the prevalence rates of most mental health disorders are similar across racial and ethnic groups, there are large inequities in diagnosis and treatment.
High levels of stigma around mental health issues, fears of discriminatory repercussions , as well as limited access to high quality, culturally responsive services, all contribute to persistent inequities in behavioral health treatment. Not to mention mental health care also carries a high cost and is rarely covered by insurance, making it difficult for low-income people of any race or ethnicity to obtain.
This is why Tony Cárdenas and Eddie Bernice Johnson introduced the Strengthening Mental Health Supports for BIPOC Communities Act, legislation to improve access to health services for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
Continue reading “Why does race matter when it comes to mental health?”