HomeBlogPatientJuly is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: 5 Facts You Didn’t Know About Minorities & Mental Health July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: 5 Facts You Didn’t Know About Minorities & Mental Health July 11, 2016Patient More than 60 million Americans suffer from a mental health condition in a given year. Many of those individuals are African American, Hispanic, Asian American, or part of another minority population. Yet, studies suggest that African American and Hispanic Americans seek treatment at only half the rate of whites, while Asian Americans only do so at one-third the rate. Some of these differences are due to access to care; some are cultural. But the differences are striking enough that the U.S. House of Representatives named July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in 2008. Bebe Campbell Moore was a popular American author who often tackled subjects of mental illness, stigma, and lack of treatment in her books, and had long fought to end mental health stigma in minority communities. She and her colleague, Linda Wharton-Boyd, were the ones who first worked to have a month dedicated solely to promote awareness of mental health issues in minority populations—and encourage those dealing with mental health conditions to seek treatment. And the need is real. The mental health disparities across the United States are alarming. Did you know: Recent studies suggest 14 percent of Native American and Alaskan Native adults had both mental and substance abuse disorders; Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers; More than 16 percent of those who identify as Black or African American have been diagnosed with a mental health condition in the past year, and it’s estimated that only one in three of those individuals will receive mental health care. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, minority populations are less likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition—and also have less access to adequate care. But with greater awareness, increased funding for mental health care, and campaigns to encourage those in marginalized groups to seek treatment, we have it within our power to diminish those disparities and help those who are needlessly suffering. To learn more about how you can help bring about change—and to find local Minority Mental Health Awareness events in your local area—visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)’s Minority Mental Health Month page. By working together, we can help bring America closer to being stigma-free when it comes to mental health, for people of all races, creeds, and colors. The information on this website is provided as a general information resource only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is provided “as is”. Assurex Health makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the information on this website. Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors. If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful. 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Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more
Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more
Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more
Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more
Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more
Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more
Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more
Patient Hints To Help You Have A Better New Year The holidays have ended, and a new year has begun—a time when many embrace a fresh start by setting New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not consider s... Read more
Patient Movement as Medicine: Solutions for Anxiety Moving forward. It sounds like a nice idea, especially when you’re feeling stuck deep in the throes of an anxiety spiral. But it turns out that physically m... Read more
Patient Weight-Loss Drugs and Mental Health: What You Need to Know New medications for weight loss seem to be flying off pharmacy shelves these days. But could they be linked to mental health conditions? Researchers are ... Read more