As the national discussion to promote emotional well-being and effectively treat mental illness accelerates, so does our understanding of the most effective ways to do so. At the same time, almost one in five Americans is experiencing a diagnosable mental illness according to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health 2016. And nearly one-quarter of these individuals has a serious mental illness that interferes with their everyday living.
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a time when public health and mental health organizations promote awareness and education about mental illness among communities of color. Racial and ethnic minority populations often experience poor social and economic circumstances that can affect mental health, including higher rates of poverty, domestic violence, community and historical trauma, and disproportionate over-representation in criminal justice systems. These conditions in which people, live, work and play, also known as the social determinants of health, impact mental health and wellbeing across generations and contribute to mental health disparities in the U.S.
While the nation made progress on reducing many health care access and quality disparities from 2000 to 2015, disparities in mental health care persist across racial and ethnic populations, geographic regions, and socioeconomic status, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) National Healthcare Disparities Report 2016 . According to the report, racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S. are less likely to have access to mental health services and more likely to receive lower quality care when compared to the White population. Research indicates much of the disparity in mental health outcomes appears to come from a lack of initial access to mental health services. The Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health underscored the disproportionate burden of reduced access to care that is experienced by racial and ethnic minority populations. Understanding the root causes of the burden of mental illness for these groups is essential for policy and practice improvement.
Disparities in mental health are often related to barriers in access to mental health care, the need for a more diverse mental health care workforce, lack of data and information, and the need for more culturally and linguistically competent care and programs. Collectively, new policies at the federal level, such as the 21st Century Cures Act , and state legislation to address mental health disparities, help reduce the impact of these challenges. The National Conference of State Legislatures reviewed legislation introduced in 2017 related to behavioral health disparities. The analysis indicated legislators in at least 19 states considered 74 bills related to behavioral health disparities and improving mental and emotional health disparities across population groups. The approaches varied across states, including a focus on developing the behavioral health workforce; and, improving insurance coverage, service availability, affordability, and quality.
Within this policy context, the HHS Office of Minority Health’s National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities establishes a nationwide, community-driven approach to health equity and a framework for aligning policy and data to improve health outcomes. Community-based organizations, such as partners in the National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health , are expanding the capacity of local mental health care systems to help close the knowledge and resource gaps in underserved communities. Service providers and health insurers nationwide are implementing the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care to improve treatment for diverse populations.
Awareness with corresponding action is needed for change. The expanded understanding of mental health disparities, coupled with the alignment of data, policy, and practice can help to move the needle and advance mental health equity. To learn more about mental health disparities and actions to promote mental health equity for you and your community, visit samhsa.gov /behavioral-health-equity and minorityhealth.hhs.gov.