Mental Health in the Black Community

The Black community faces significant mental health challenges, with higher rates of serious mental health issues and lower access to culturally responsive care. Contributing factors include historical trauma, systemic barriers, and discrimination.

1. Prevalence of Mental Health Issues

  • Black individuals are more likely to experience serious mental health issues, such as Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
  • Black emerging adults (ages 18-25) have higher rates of mental health problems and lower rates of mental health service utilization compared to White emerging adults and older Black adults.

2. Contributing Factors

  • Lack of Access: Limited access to culturally responsive mental health care.
  • Historical Trauma: Historical abuses by the medical field contribute to distrust in the healthcare system.
  • Systemic Barriers: Economic insecurity, violence, and criminal injustice exacerbate mental health disparities.
  • Discrimination: Prejudice and racism in daily life and within the healthcare system.

 

 

Medium shot of a group of adults sitting in a circle and talking to each other about their mental well-being. They are all wearing casual clothing. The community centre is located in Seaton Deleval in the North East of England.[/caption]

3. Research Findings

  • The adult Black community is 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems.
  • Inequalities in mental health care utilization are increasing despite efforts to reduce disparities.

4. Barriers to Care

  • Trust Issues: Lack of trust in the medical system due to historical abuses.
  • Insurance and Financial Burden: Less access to adequate insurance and financial constraints.
  • Cultural Responsiveness: Shortage of culturally responsive mental health providers.
  • Fear of Discrimination: Fear that past discriminatory experiences will be repeated.

5. Need for Culturally Sensitive Treatment

Emphasis on the importance of culturally sensitive treatment to address mental health disparities.

Source: Columbia University Department of Psychiatry. “Addressing Mental Health in the Black Community.” Columbia University, 8 Feb. 2019, https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/addressing-mental-health-black-community#:~:text=Research%20Surrounding%20the%20Black%20Community,Disorder%20or%20Generalized%20Anxiety%20Disorder