Your mental health is an extremely important part of your overall well-being. Mental issues can greatly impact your day to day life. If something just doesn’t seem right, there is nothing wrong with seeking help.
July marks National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, and is aimed at improving access to mental health treatment and services for multicultural communities. Consider these facts, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):
- African Americans in the United States are less likely to receive accurate diagnoses than their Caucasian counterparts.
- The manifestation of physical illnesses related to mental health occurs at a rate of 15 percent among African Americans and only 9 percent among Caucasian Americans.
- African Americans are disproportionately more likely to experience social circumstances that increase their chances of developing a mental illness
- African American and Caribbean women tend to experience greater severity and persistence of depression, compared to Caucasian women.
Information from NAMI states that culture biases against mental health professionals prevent many African Americans from accessing care, that mental illness is frequently stigmatized and misunderstood among this group, and that African Americans tend to rely on family, religious and social communities for emotional support rather than seeking help from a mental health professional.
This issue can be improved through various programs and innovations. Churches and community groups can also to the part by participating in programs through respected organizations.
Now is the time to educate yourself and loved ones on mental illness. Know the conditions and the signs and don’t be ashamed or afraid to get medical help. Take your mental
NAMI
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mental Health