Bridging the Racial Health Gap: How to Improve Mental Health and Remove Barriers to Care
Discover how to improve mental health in underserved communities, reduce disparities, and promote health equity for culturally diverse individuals.
More than 20% of U.S. adults live with mental illness, yet many don’t get the care they need. Despite growing openness and understanding about mental health in the last decade, treatment is often delayed or avoided because of shame or other negative feelings. And like other aspects of healthcare, people in marginalized groups often have problems accessing quality mental health treatment.
The numbers are stark: In 2021, it is estimated that only 39 percent of Black adults, 25 percent of Asian adults, and 36 percent of Hispanic/Latine adults with any mental illness were treated, compared to 52 percent of White adults. The suicide rate among Black youth is rising faster than other racial or ethnic groups. American Indian and Alaska Native veterans report experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at nearly double the rate of White veterans – 20.5 percent compared to 11.6 percent.
