3 Roadblocks to Mental Health for Persons of Color
If you belong to a community of color and are impacted with mental health challenges, you’re not alone. In the United States, there are over 15 million indigenous people and people of color that report challenges with mental health issues. Often due to cultural and institutional barriers, roadblocks exist to seeking the help needed.
1. It’s Seen as a Stigma
Often as people of color we stop ourselves from getting the help they need because of long-standing social stigma within our group. As an example, in some communities, seeking treatment is a sign that you are “crazy” and in other cases “weak.”
2. A Lack of Access to the Right Treatment
Oftentimes, people within our communities are not fluent in English. Unless you live in a large, urban area where other languages may be spoken by practicing clinicians, it can be challenging finding a provider who will speak your language.
And, according to the American Psychological Association, 86% of psychologists in the U.S. are White. This means it can be challenging to find a provider who understands your culture and background and the specific challenges you may face.
If you cannot find a provider in your area that is of the same race, it is recommended that you ask prospective mental health providers about their training and background to get a sense of whether you’d feel comfortable working with them or not. You can ask things like:
- What cultural competence training have you had?
- Do you have direct and successful experience treating people from my specific cultural background?
- How do you respect and include clients of color values and cultural beliefs into treatment plan?
3. A Lack of Available Resources
People within communities of color often have a lack of access to proper resources where they can even learn about mental health and what they may be experiencing. The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) is a great resource to take advantage of and to share with other members of the community.
If you are impacted from a mental health issue such as depression, PTSD or anxiety and would like to explore treatment options, please get in touch with me. I hold a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, have had significant cultural competence training and always make it a point to incorporate my clients’ values and culture into treatment planning.
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