New Study Shows How Racial Bias Impacts Mental Health Care for Black Community
What happened: A new study revealed that Black patients often fear seeing mental health specialists amid concerns that they will be stereotyped and judged based on their race. The research by the Regenstrief Institute looked at how patients interpret verbal and non-verbal communication when seeking care. The researchers interviewed 85 Black veterans needing mental health services. According to the study, the veterans identified threatening cues which included, “lack of racial diversity representation in health care settings and perceptions of providers’ fears of Black patients.” Researchers said the study should help guide providers in offering better care for minority groups,
We aren’t asking providers to walk on eggshells, we are encouraging them to engage in two-way communication in order to better understand the people they serve and, ultimately, to promote health equity. — Johanne Eliacin, PhD, Regenstrief Institute, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Many Black patients with mental health concerns fear being judged by providers based on stereotypes. Read how this impacts the patient-provider relationship in new research from the VA and Regenstrief. https://t.co/TmqzJtuVi9
— Regenstrief Institute, Inc. (@Regenstrief) September 17, 2020
The Frontlines: Although Black American people face mental health conditions at a similar rate as the rest of the population, the community faces different challenges when it comes to seeking care.
- According to the American Psychiatric Association, only 1 in 3 Black people who need mental health services actually receive them.
- Only 2% of psychologists and 21.3% of psychiatrists are members of minority groups.
- Statistics show people are more likely to have feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness than white Americans.
- There is also often a stigma within the Black community when it comes to mental health. According to Columbia University, “Research has found that the lack of cultural responsiveness from the therapist, cultural mistrust, and potential negative views from the therapist associated with stigma impact the provision of mental health services in the Black community.”
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A Mighty Voice: Our contributor, DaVonna Williams, shared, “Mental health issues are not ethnic or color specific occurrences that only impact people who look a certain way. They are very much human things. There is already a stigma about mental health, but there is a double standard faced by those who are already from marginalized communities.” You can submit your first-person story, too.
From Our Community:
Other things to know: Experts say social media has helped mental health become a more open conversation within the Black community. Here is what Mighty contributors are saying about this important topic:
- 8 Ways Health Care Racism Is Harming Black People
- It’s Time to Change Our ‘Black and White’ View of Depression
- Black Children Are at a Higher Risk for Suicide Between the Ages of 5 and 12
How to take action: You can learn more about mental health disparities among Black people by visiting the Black Mental Health Alliance.
Header image via stefanamer/Getty Images
Silvia Pittman is a wife and new mom who is obsessed with all things digital. When she's not chasing after her toddler, she's writing and taking in the Gulf of Mexico views at the beach. She is a first generation immigrant committed to spreading awareness for issues that impact the Latinx community. She is always eager to tell new stories and believes in the unparalleled value of access to information.
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