Mental Health in the Black Community

As we continue to celebrate Black pride and excellence, it is important to spotlight mental health in the community. Here we highlight helpful resources—mental health should always be a priority.

According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress, such as sadness and feeling like everything is an effort. Black adults living below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress than those with more financial security.

Despite the needs, only 1 in 3 Black adults with mental illness receive treatment. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Mental Health Facts for African Americans guide, they are also:

  • Less likely to receive guideline-consistent care
  • Less frequently included in research
  • More likely to use emergency rooms or primary care (rather than mental health specialists)

Barriers to Mental Health Care

  • Socioeconomic Disparities: socioeconomic factors such as exclusion from health, educational, social and economic resources can make treatment options less available. In 2020, 10.4% of Black adults in the U.S. had no form of health insurance.
  • Stigma: negative attitudes and beliefs towards people who live with mental health conditions is pervasive within the U.S. and can be particularly strong within the Black community, with research showing that many Black adults – especially older adults – view mental health conditions as a consequence of personal weakness.
  • Provider Bias and Inequality of Care: Black individuals are more likely to receive a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia when expressing symptoms related to mood disorders.

How To Seek Culturally Competent Care

While we recommend seeking help from a mental health professional, a primary care professional is also a great place to start. A primary care professional might be able to provide an initial mental health assessment and referral to a mental health professional if needed. Community and faith organizations may also have a list of available mental health providers in your area.

When meeting with a provider, it can be helpful to ask questions to get a sense of their level of cultural awareness. Providers expect and welcome questions from their patients or clients, since this helps them better understand what is important in their treatment. Here are some sample questions:

  • Have you treated other Black people or received training in cultural competence for Black mental health? If not, how do you plan to provide me with culturally sensitive, patient-centered care?
  • How do you see our cultural backgrounds influencing our communication and my treatment?
  • Do you use a different approach in your treatment when working with patients from different cultural backgrounds?
  • What is your current understanding of differences in health outcomes for Black patients?

If finances are preventing you from finding help, contact a local health or mental health clinic or your local government to see what services you qualify for. You can find contact information online at findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling the National Treatment Referral Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).

Additional mental health resources:

  • Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM)
  • Black Men Heal
  • Black Mental Health Alliance
  • Black Mental Wellness
  • Black Women’s Health Imperative
  • Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation
  • Brother You’re on My Mind
  • Ebony’s Mental Health Resources by State
  • Melanin and Mental Health
  • Mocha Health
  • Ourselves Black
  • POC Online Classroom
  • Sista Afya
  • Therapy for Black Girls
  • The SIWE Project
  • The Steve Fund

Source: nami.org