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July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.  Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, color, gender or identity. Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness regardless of their background. However, background and identity can make access to mental health treatment difficult to obtain.  National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority groups experience regarding mental illness in the United States.

 

Access to mental health resources is harder for racial and ethnic minority groups who need access to mental health and substance-use treatment services.  And, many stop trying to receive help, because of the barriers that they encounter and/or their request for help is not taken seriously.

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Now is the time to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues, as well as highlighting the ways that mental illness and addiction can affect all of us.  Mental Health care professionals play an important role in the conversations about mental health treatment, including creating partnerships that address mental  health issues in non-traditional ways.

 

The overall value of health care can lead to improvements in patient outcomes, quality of care and total costs.  Mental health treatment should be accessible and affordable.  Now, is the time to bring awareness that mental health issues are real experiences that need to be addressed, so that we can live in a healthy and happy society.  If you or someone you know can benefit from mental health treatment, call toll-free: 1-800-662-4357 (it's free, conditional and open 24/7)

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For more resources visit: https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/minority-mental-health/

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By Dietra Myers