Lightening the Burden of Mental Illness for Minority Groups

By Billy Oglesby, PhD, MBA, FACHE

The annual observance of Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (MMHA Month) is often linked with its founder, Bebe Moore Campbell.  An author and tireless advocate, Campbell actively campaigned for mental health education and access to mental healthcare facilities in impoverished communities until her untimely death in 2006.  Every July, MMHA Month calls national attention to the unique mental health issues that exist in disadvantaged minority communities. 

Why is this important from a population health perspective?  Statistics show that almost half of all people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with a mental health disorder during their lifetime.  Social and economic circumstances can leave racial and ethnic minorities at increased risk for many preventable mental health problems.  Even a cursory look at the barriers to treatment for minority adults with mental illness in the U.S. is startling. For example:

• Asian American and Pacific Islanders are the least likely to receive mental health treatment (only 36.1% in 2022).  In addition to a low rate of fluency in English (only 30.9%), multiple systemic barriers to accessing quality mental health care and treatment are exacerbated by the lack of culturally sensitive, integrated care.  The result is delayed treatment, increased symptoms and poorer quality of life.
• Black/African Ancestry Communities - Only 37.9% of non-Hispanic Black or African American adults with mental illness received treatment in 2022.  Persistent discrimination in healthcare delivery results in negative experiences for Black people seeking treatment. Conscious and unconscious provider bias and lack of cultural competency can lead to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment.  Black people are more likely to relate physical symptoms (e.g., pains) to mental health problems (e.g., depression) making it difficult for non-culturally competent provider to recognize mental health symptoms.  
• Hispanic or Latino Communities - Nearly half of Hispanic or Latino young adults (ages 18-25) with serious mental illness do not receive treatment; and only 39.6% of the Hispanic or Latino adults with mental illness receive treatment each year (U.S. average 50.6%).  The estimated 16.7% of Hispanic people in the U.S. who live in poverty (compared to 12.6% of the general population) are at higher risk of mental illness.   

In many minority communities, the same historical and cultural factors that have led to significant health disparities have fueled misunderstanding and stigma around mental health.  MMHA Month initiatives foster inclusiveness, combat misinformation, destigmatize mental health issues, and help lighten the burden for individuals struggling with mental illness.    

Given the enormity of the challenge, where do we start? 

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides an easy to access and use 2024 National MMHA Month Toolkit.  Its modifiable social media graphics, messages, and talking/discussion points can be used by any group, large or small – from businesses and healthcare providers to community organizations and advocacy groups.   
• One way the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) recognizes MMHA Month is by encouraging Community Conversation Initiatives, a series created for various racially and ethnically diverse communities around the country to engage in open, honest discussions on mental health and wellness.  For example:  Black/African Ancestry communities share sacred stories in a guided dialogue that centers on healing and support; Hispanic/Latin American communities create safe spaces for receiving free, accessible mental health support, generational wisdom, and communal healing; and South Asian communities organize listening circles to validate and explore participants’ mental wellness journeys, and discover avenues of support.

Each of us can find a way to observe MMHA Month.  It might be encouraging someone who needs mental health care to seek professional help.  It could be sending resources to someone in need.  Or, it might be simply listening and showing kindness. 

Billy Oglesby, PhD, MBA, FACHE is the Humana Dean of the Jefferson College of Population Health.