The Ultimate Mental Health Resource for People of Color

Wellness
Written By Rhi Cook

Why is this Guide Necessary?

If you’re reading this, you are probably already familiar with many of the challenges that face people of color in the area of mental health, so if you want to skip this recap please scroll to the Resources section.

If you’re curious about learning more about minority mental health, you aren’t alone. The issue has been (rightfully) getting more attention from the media as well as researchers and the medical community in recent years. Nearly 1 in 5 adults, or 51.8 million Americans, suffer from some kind of mental illness. What’s worse? Only 44.8% were able to get treatment according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

What’s really worse? Looking at access to services by race/ ethnicity. A 2015 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that white people, especially white females, use mental health services at a greater rate. In the graph below you can see who has utilized mental health service in the past year among adults with any mental illness.

Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Racial/ Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use among Adults.

Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Racial/ Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use among Adults.

So does that simply mean that Black and Latinx populations want mental health services less than White people? Nah, that ain’t it. While there certainly are stigmas that exist within communities of color on the issues of therapy and mental illness, people of color want access to mental health resources that will help them to live a full, healthy life. Barriers that play a big role in explaining the graph above come down to underdiagnoses, lack of access, and disparities in care. Here are a handful of examples of how these factors show up and decrease access and effectiveness of mental health treatment for people of color:

  • Symptoms of mental illness can present differently in people from different cultures which can lead to under diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Examples include headaches, light-headedness, sleep disturbances, and stomach aches. People of color undergoing mental crises can be missed all together.

  • People from marginalized communities can have past experiences which have caused mistrust in the healthcare system, making them slower or more reluctant to open up about their needs and struggles or less likely to seek help in the first place.

  • Providers tend to over diagnose Black patients with psychotic disorders, specifically schizophrenia, and underdiagnosed Black patients with mood disorders, which also tend to be more treatable.

  • Once in the exam room, Black patients are less likely to receive high quality, evidence-based care.

  • Most new studies on antidepressants and mood stabilizers are based on white populations, so there is not even a matched population that is studied to see if the same medications affect POC populations in the same way.

  • After entering care, minority patients are less likely than whites to receive the best available treatments for depression and anxiety.

Americans of color have an undeniably unmet need for mental health services that are experienced in treating them and meeting their needs. These existing systemic inequities and barriers are compounded by the fact that racism is a literal public health crisis. That’s why this guide exists. If you’d like to explore the issue more here are some great resources to learn about the problem more in depth:

Watch: Black Mental Health - If you don’t know, now you know | The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Watch: Black Mental Health Matters | Phillip J. Roundtree | TEDxWilmington

Read: New York Times | The Extra Stigma of Mental Illness for African Americans

Read: Kaiser Health News | Addiction Medicine Mostly Prescribed to Whites, Even as Opioid Deaths Rose Among Blacks

Listen: Therapy for Black Girls | Partnering with your PCP

It’s A LOT. We know, but fortunately there are some amazing organizations and resources available now and who are working on providing solutions.

Mental Health Care Resources for People of Color

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

As the saying goes- mental health is wealth, but for many black and brown people, accumulating that wealth can be a struggle. If you are a person of color in search of help, we've compiled a comprehensive list of resources to help. It's important to first say hat a person’s mental illness is not the whole of their identity. We as people are a composite of thousands of identities. Race and mental health status are only two parts of who we are as whole people. Part of breaking down the stigma that exists with mental health is not letting it define you, and not defining other people by theirs. We all need help at some point and being able to recognize when you need to speak to someone is an important part of self awareness.

Crisis & Emergency Hotlines:

If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call one of the following resources to speak to a trained professional:

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Call 800-273-TALK (8255)

  • Mental Health Crisis Text Line – Text NAMI to 741-741

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline – Call 800-799-SAFE (7233)

  • National Sexual Assault Hotline – Call 800-656-HOPE (4673)

Mental Health and Your Primary Care Provider (PCP)

For many people, a primary care provider can be their sole source of mental health care. Nearly 25% of African Americans are uninsured and are also more likely to use emergency and/or primary care specialists. ((Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, 2001)) While it would be ideal for every person to have access to a mental health care professional, if a primary care provider has the correct training they can play a valuable role in monitoring and caring for people who don’t have access to a mental health professional. All Spora Health Providers have training to providing culturally competent mental health support by asking the right questions, paying attention, and building into comprehensive health plans ways people can support their mental health. Examples include mindfulness and breathwork, exercise plans, and routine creation.

Additionally, primary care providers who are supplementing and supporting mental health care need to be committed to removing all stigma and judgement from mental wellbeing conversations, recognizing physical symptoms that might have an emotional cause (insomnia, chronic headaches, etc), and building trust in the patient-provider relationship. Again, anyone experiencing mental health issues should seek out a qualified mental health provider if they are able, but the primary care provider can be a valuable part of supporting a patient.

If you're interested in seeing a primary care provider with training in supporting mental health consider becoming a Spora Health member to see one of our Providers.

Finding Culturally Competent Mental Health Therapy and Providers:

If you are in search of a mental health professional that you can have a culturally competent experience with and can meet you needs, there are lots of resources to either find racially concordant care (finding a therapist of your same race or ethnicity) or to find a provider who specializes in inclusive therapy:

Photo by Alex Green from Pexels

  • Therapy for Black Girls is your one stop shop if you’re a Black woman for finding a provider in person or virtually. Additionally, they have amazing blog content, a fire podcast, and an amazingly engaged and supportive Sister Circle if you are looking for community support.

  • Melanin and Mental Health connects Black and Latinx people to mental health resources and helps them find providers.

  • Inclusive Therapists helps you find a therapist with specific cultural knowledge, a large language group, and focuses on topics like Land Back Indigenous Sovereignty, Sex Worker Ally, and Black Liberation.

  • The Asian Counseling Referral Service provides Asian American and Pacific Islander communities with mental health services and support.

  • The Shrink Space can connect you with Black and Indigenous mental health providers of color.

  • Ayana Therapy offers mental healthcare for marginalized and intersectional communities, and in support of BIPOC Mental Health Month, they are offering affordable therapy for individuals at $60 per session.

  • The Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) has a Black Virtual Wellness Directory to find therapists of color.

  • LatinX therapy does it all. In addition to having a great directory of online therapists, they have a podcast, courses and workshops, and a wealth of wellness resources for the Latinx community.

  • Find your ideal therapist of color and boost your wellness journey with content written by and for people of color: InnoPsych.

  • Therapy for LatinX is a directory for the LatinX community to find verified therapists, psychiatrists, community clinics, emergency mental health, life coaches and support groups.

  • Therapy for Black Men provides judgment-free, multiculturally-competent care to Black men.

  • Asians do Therapy is a resource to help reduce the stigma of seeking mental health support in the Asian community and help people find a therapist that works for them.

  • The Asian Mental Health Collective has a great directory of therapists.

  • Psychology Today allows you to search for Black Therapists within its directory

  • Indigenous Circle of Wellness is Indigenous owned and offers "culturally inclusive and holistic counseling" throughout the state of California. They have a cool sister 501c3, called So’oh-Shinálí Sister Project that offers training on Indigenous mental wellness, education to Tribal organizations and schools on mental health, and Indigenous leadership trainings on intergenerational resilience and decolonizing higher education.

  • Sista Afya Community Mental Wellness is a social enterprise that provides low-cost mental wellness services that center the experiences of Black women

  • Dr. Jennifer Mullan focuses on decolonizing therapy, and specifically offers services around generational trauma, migration trauma, and capitalism fatigue to mention a few.

When evaluating a new provider, we encourage you to ask direct questions about their experience working with the identities you will navigate together. Think of the first meeting as an interview where you get to evaluate whether they will be a good fit. There may be some trial and error involved, but it's a better investment to take the time to find the right fit vs. not having a provider who is meeting your needs.

Communities:

As the African Proverb says, 'sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.' Finding safe spaces and communities where you can discuss your mental health in a group setting can help foster connection and remind us we're not alone. Here are some online communities for people of color dedicated to mental wellness:

  • Ethel’s Club is a virtual and IRL healing space that centers and celebrates people of color.

  • "The Safe Place" Is a Minority Mental Health App geared towards the Black Community. Available in the Apple and the Google Store.

  • Rest for Resistance is a digital zine and support group lead by trans people of color.

  • The Group Peer Support (GPS) provides free support groups for COVID-19, Post-partum, people in recovery, and much more.

  • DRK Beauty is a wellbeing and mental digital health community that supports and empowers womxn of color to craft their own well-being journey.

  • Mandala is a peer to peer community for people of color who want to enrich their emotional wellbeing. They bring together small groups to work through a month long program together to build mindful awareness and self-compassion.

Mental Health Podcasts for People of Color:

There's a wealth of podcasts dedicated to talking about minority mental health and advancing the dialog. If you are a podcast listener consider subscribing to some of the following:

pexels-vlada-karpovich-7365307.jpg

Financial Support for Mental Health:

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Mental health cannot be addresses without acknowledging poverty and financial distress. If you are unable to afford mental health services, here are some resources and organizations providing services for free or at a steep discount:

  • Mental Health America offers a free mental health screening. Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible, but only after identifying that there might be a problem.

  • The Loveland Therapy Fund helps to minimize the cost of therapy for Black women and girls

  • The AAKOMA Project offers 5 free virtual therapy for young people.

  • Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a non-profit nationwide network of mental health professionals dedicated to providing in-office and online mental health care—at a steeply reduced rate—to individuals, couples, children, and families in need. A lifetime membership is only $59

  • DRK Beauty provides free therapy for womxn of color. If you need financial support please browse their directory of providers.

Resources for BIPOC LGBTQIA+

The needs of the BIPOC LGBTQIA+ community are unique from heterosexual and cis-gendered people of color, and most likely to screen positive or at risk for mental health issues. ((https://mhanational.org/infographic-bipoc-and-lgbtq-mental-health)) If you are in search of mental health care or support that can meet the needs of your racial, sexual, and gender identities, the following organizations can be of assistance:

hoto by Rafael Barros from Pexels

hoto by Rafael Barros from Pexels

COVID-19 Support:

The world has changed a lot in the last 18 months and many people are struggling

Other Resources:

  • Brother, You're on My Mind Toolkit provides materials needed to educate fellow fraternity brothers and community members on depression and stress in African American men.

  • Postpartum Support Fact Sheet for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders

  • The Frontline Doula Hotline is a respectful "warm line" that allows you to schedule a call back time with a Doula.

  • Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to increase mental health care access, decrease stigma and created a directory of culturally-sensitive Black-centered healing and therapy resources.

  • The Black Mental Health Alliance hosts regular workshops for the community. Check out their upcoming events.

  • NAMI’s guide on talking to family and friends about your mental health needs

  • Black Health Lit

  • The Not OK App is a pre-crisis tool that can alert your trusted friends and family when you are in need of support.

  • The American Psychiatric Association created a “Guide for Latinos and their Families” about different kinds of mental illnesses, treatments and how to find care.

  • The Center for Native American Youth has tools including videos, peer-to-peer engagement activities and a resource exchange for mental wellness.

  • This virtual Racial Trauma Guide developed by the EMPOWER (Engaging Minorities in Prevention Outreach Wellness Education & Research) covers coping with racial stressors and being an ally.

  • Liberate is a free meditation app made specifically for BIPOC people, led by BIPOC people

  • PDF of BIPOC Mental Health Resources

  • My Therapy Cards® is the first self-exploration card deck created by a black Female Psychologist for other people of color with specific editions for Black men, women, and teens

More Resources for Clinicians:

If you are a medical professional interested in learning more about the issues that currently exist or how you can better meet the mental health needs of your patients of color here is a list of resources:

TONL-07776.jpg
Rhi Cook

Rhi is on a mission as a communicator to help everyday people understand and engage with complex concepts in an approachable way. It’s important to her that information about health and wellness be honest, relatable, and straightforward to ensure there aren’t unnecessary barriers to health literacy. Growing up biracial in rural Ohio, Rhi has existed at the intersection of different perspectives and is passionate about facilitating understanding across cultural backgrounds.

Previous

Why do People of Color need culturally competent healthcare?

Next

Mindfulness & Healthcare with Nkechi Njaka