07/16/2025
Join me in recognizing the disparities in care faced by minorities this month during National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Facts surrounding minority healthcare disparities with psychiatry include:
1) American Natives and Native Alaskans have the highest risk of su***de, and is the 9th leading cause of death (source: US Center for Disease Control and Prevention/ CDC)
2) Between 2018- 2021 su***de rates increased within the Hispanics (26%) and non-Hispanic Black (19.2%) population, but declined by 3.9% amoung non-Hispanic white people (source: CDC)
3) A 2021 survey amoung high schoolers showed that those who identified as lesbien, gay, or bisexual were 5x more likely to attempt su***de.
4) A 2024 clinical study revealed that individuals living in impoverished Black communities were less likely to call 911 if witnessing an overdose drspite protection by Aaron's law due to previous poor experience with law enforcement.
5) People from racial or ethnic minorities are less likely to receive mental healthcare as well as more likely to be dismissed by healthcare providers than white individuals.
6) Black individuals are more likely to receive poorer quality care due to lack of culturally competant care.(Primm A, et al 2010)
7) Black individuals with severe mental illness (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other psychotic disorders) are more likely to be incarcerated than other races (J. Gen Intern Med, 2000)
8) Only one out of three Black individuals who need mental health services will receive it. (Dalencour M, et al. 2017)
