Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is a time for people to learn about the unique challenges that minorities face surrounding mental health diagnoses and treatments. In this article, we share how people can get involved in Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, and we highlight how mental health challenges can impact minority groups.
When is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month?
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is each July. The US House of Representatives designated the month in 2008 after African American author, teacher, and mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell addressed Congress.
Bebe More Campbell became an advocate for mental health in minority communities after helping her daughter address a mental health diagnosis. While helping her daughter, Campbell learned firsthand the unique challenges that minority groups face when accessing mental health services. These challenges include battling stigmas surrounding mental health and accessing mental healthcare that is both affordable and culturally competent.
In response to her experiences with her daughter, Campbell started a Los Angeles chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The organization works to reduce challenges in accessing mental health care for other members of Black, indigenous, and people-of-color (BIPOC) communities.
How can a person participate in Minority Mental Health Awareness Month?
Anyone can participate in Minority Mental Health Month, whether they are a member of a minority group themselves or not. All that is important is that the person wants to act as an advocate and an ally in combating mental health challenges that affect minority communities. People can even participate virtually while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
One way to participate in Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is to share content on minority mental health on social media as part of NAMI's You Are Not Alone campaign. Those efforts can provide comfort and reassurance to members of minority groups. Social media posts can include popular hashtags, such as #NotAlone, #MinorityMentalHealth, and #MMHAM. You can find pre-made images and social media graphics on NAMI's event resources page.
Another way to raise awareness during Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is by participating in ins NAMI's Personal Stories campaign. In the Personal Stories campaign, people share text or video-based anecdotes from their lived experiences with mental health struggles. People who are currently struggling with mental health can feel supported and comforted by these stories. You can submit your personal story to NAMI, and select stories will feature on NAMI's Personal Story blog.
What mental health challenges impact minority groups?
When facing mental health challenges, minority groups struggle with more than just the mental health issue itself. Often, minority groups face the added challenges of accessing adequate treatment for their mental health. Paying for treatment is a common challenge. Some members of minority groups are more likely to live in poverty than members of the general population. These individuals may not be able to afford health insurance that covers mental health treatment. Native Americans, for example, are two times more likely than the general population to live in poverty.
Another set of challenges includes finding culturally-competent care providers and overcoming language barriers. For example, under two percent of mental health professionals in the American Psychiatric Association are Black or African American. Additionally, some minority groups, particularly older immigrants from Hispanic and Asian American populations, may have trouble overcoming language barriers when trying to access mental health care.
Stigmas surrounding mental health issues among minority groups can also present a challenge to accessing care. For example, in many Asian American populations, discussing mental health issues and seeking treatment is taboo. Members of the Asian American community my forgo talking about their mental health struggles. Unfortunately, this silence often exacerbates a person's mental health issues.
How Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital can help
Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital provides a variety of mental health treatment programs to the greater Bakersfield, California area. If you or a loved one struggles with behavioral health and mental health, specialized clinical care may be appropriate.
Our trained clinical staff provides adult treatment programs and adolescent programs for mental health treatment. Programs include inpatient care and outpatient care options. For patients that suffer from substance abuse, we offer inpatient medical detox programs and intensive outpatient programs for chemical dependency.
At Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, we are mindful of the unique mental health challenges that can affect minority communities. We pride ourselves in creating a safe, welcoming environment for everyone, and we strive to provide culturally competent care for each patient.
To get started at Bakersfield Behavioral Healthcare Hospital, you must first schedule a mental health assessment. The assessment is free, and it helps our clinical staff, the patient, and the patient's family assess if our facility is right for the patient's mental health needs. To schedule a free mental health assessment, please call us anytime at (877) 755-4907. Our caring staff is available 24/7, and we look forward to helping you or your loved one with their mental health needs.