By Bella Gamboa
February 15, 2022
Mental health is our social, psychological, and emotional well being. It is affected by physical interactions, experiences, as well as how these daily situations are processed. Mental health affects the way in which we think, feel, and act. It determines our relationships with others, and whether they are successful or not. It helps us figure out how to manage stress and make serious decisions. If someone’s mental health is struggling, their thoughts, energy, stamina, and behavior can be affected. Mental health clearly is vital, not just in adulthood, but in all stages and phases of life.
Mental health for people of color is just as critical as in any other person; however, it is harder for this community to receive proper mental health care. “Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General” states, “Despite the existence of effective treatments, disparities lie in the availability and quality of mental health services for racial and ethnic minorities.” This report divulges the information concerning minority populations and how this community is under-served and underrepresented due to decades of policies and regulations placed against them. There are a few reasons why minorities aren’t receiving appropriate care. There is a huge amount of people of color struggling to be economically successful, shown in the racial wealth gap between minorities and the majority. This is caused by systemic policies that have attempted to hold people of color back/separate them from the majority. Apart from the expenses and a lack of adequate health insurance coverage, there are many other supporting factors of why minorities are not receiving appropriate care. There is a lack of availability, racism/bias/discrimination in treatment settings, language barriers, and lack of resources. “Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General” goes on to say, “Without culturally competent services, the failure to serve racial and ethnic minority groups adequately is expected to worsen…”
Apart from these barriers, there are many cultural stigmas and barriers that affect the community of color. When focusing on the African American community, there have been stigmas associated with mental health dating back to the years of slavery. Slave owners viewed African Americans as “less than”, unworthy of human rights, and therefore, incapable of developing mental health disorders (like depression). Sadly, in these times, African Americans did not have the luxury of focusing on their mental health and taking care of themselves. Their primary focus was survival: Food, water, shelter, safety. When talking about mental health, the word, “crazy”, is used by many people. People who suffer from mental health disorders should not be considered crazy. They need care, just as those who become sick with the flu. Mental health and wellness is just as important as physical health. “Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General” communicates, “Research documents that many members of minority groups fear, or feel ill at ease with, the mental health system…”
The community of color’s mental health is also affected by societal pressures and interactions. Fundamentally, society is affected by its history: Mistakes and triumphs. Systemic racism affects the day to day lives of all people of color. If you didn’t know, systemic racism is a form of racism that has been implemented as a regular occurrence within a society/organization. The racial wealth gap, discriminatory encounters, societal expectations and biases, stereotypes, assimilation, etc. are all products of systemic racism. In 2010, the recorded median net worth for a white family was 134,000 dollars in comparison with a Hispanic family, 14,000 dollars, and an African American family, 11,000 dollars. The median wealth (recorded in 2010) for Caucasian single women was set at 41,000 dollars, while Hispanic women was 140 dollars, and Black women was 120 dollars. The racial wealth gap is a result of the past policies that prohibited people of color from succeeding in America as well as the policies that continue to plague our communities and detriment our society. Legal segregation followed by racist housing policies (redlining, blockbusting, etc.) disadvantage people of color to this day because of the disproportionately spread population in neighborhoods varied by race. Where you live determines what food you eat, job options, safety, healthcare options, education quality (for yourself or children), etc. These constant factors that affect the lives of people of color cause stress, depression, etc.
The community of color is subject to race based traumatic stress or RBTS which references the mental (emotional) damage caused by racial bias, discrimination, racism, and hate crimes. Clearly, these encounters are uncomfortable and unwarranted. Those burdened with these interactions react in many ways. Many brush it off, some consider it a normal occurrence due to the frequency, others have trouble processing the situation, and many bury their emotions. As a person of color, there is such a pressure to be strong because of all the other people that deal with the same struggle and don’t complain. However, this is not healthy. Just because an issue is not talked about, doesn’t mean that these feelings are invalid. Buried emotions fester long-term trouble for mental health. Suppressed emotions combined with lack of care within the community births pain for the community’s mental health.
In society, there are many pressures to assimilate into the majority’s culture. Being a minority and living in a society where being different excludes you means that you have been isolated and ostracized in one way or another. This isn’t only in adults; many of today’s youth who belong to the community of color have found themselves isolated or bullied for their racial background. This, of course, increases the temptation to be like the majority (to be accepted) rather than being your authentic self at an age that is crucial for self discovery and growth. Pressures to assimilate can also birth self loathing and lower self esteem stemming from the pain that being yourself has caused. At a young age, this can pave a path for an unhealthy future stemming from an unhealthy relationship with yourself. Assimilation causes many other issues for mental health such as absence of a sense of identity stemming from loss of cultural identity. Many studies have shown that cultural identity is directly related to personal identity. Identity development is defined as, “a complex process in which humans develop a clear and unique view of themselves and of their identity.” Culture is something that assists in this process, in how people define themselves and relate to others, and therefore has a large impact on identity formation, or by contrast, the lack of development. Consequently, when culture is forgotten, the development of identity is hindered. People of color are affected by all of these factors apart from those that affect all people (stress from job/school, history of abuse, etc.). In totality, people of color, and other marginalized groups’ mental health, is affected immensely just because they were born who they are.
QUICK STATISTICS RELATED TO THE TOPIC THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
Black Americans are 3.5 times more likely to be killed by the police.
Black Americans are jailed approximately 5 times the rate of White Americans and are more likely to receive crueler sentences for similar crimes.
Black mothers are 3 times more likely to die as a result of childbirth.
Black transgender people are twice as likely to be killed or victims of violent crimes in comparison with Caucasian cisgender people.
Communities of color are less likely to have health insurance coverage.
Black Americans are 3.7 times more likely to be arrested in comparison with White Americans.
Black and Hispanic mothers are more than 2 times more likely NOT to receive proper prenatal care in comparison with Caucasian women.
Native American mothers are 3 times less likely to receive proper prenatal care in comparison with Caucasian women.
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