Unveiling Stereotypes: The Connection Between Ethnic Minorities and Mental Well-being
Each July, National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a crucial reminder to prioritise mental well-being among minority populations and foster open conversations about mental health. However, several myths and barriers persist, hindering access to mental health services in these communities.
Leslie Fuentes-Nguyen, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, identifies three common myths that contribute significantly to these barriers:
- Silence and Stigma
- Myth: Mental health issues are not prevalent or are a sign of weakness.
- Impact: This myth can lead to a lack of discussion and underreporting of mental health issues, especially in Black communities where mental health is often shrouded in silence. Only about 15% of Black adults received mental health treatment in 2023, compared to 27% of white adults.1
- Model Minority Myth
- Myth: All Asian Americans are well-off and doing fine.
- Impact: This myth can obscure the true extent of mental health challenges faced by Asian Americans, who are three times less likely to seek therapy due to cultural stigma and shame.5 During the pandemic, anxiety and depression rates increased sharply, but less than 9% accessed mental health services.5
- Cultural Barriers
- Myth: Standard mental health assessments are universally effective.
- Impact: This myth overlooks the need for culturally competent care, leading to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) populations. Language barriers and lack of cultural understanding can create additional trauma.3
Other barriers include mistrust of healthcare, financial and access barriers, and the belief that physical health is more important than mental health. These myths can harm mental health awareness and access in minority populations.Fuentes-Nguyen
However, it's important to remember that mental health is not a weakness, a label, or a burden, but a part of being human.Fuentes-Nguyen Mental health affects various aspects of physical health, including sleep, appetite, heart health, and immune function. Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to serious physical health problems if left untreated.[Myth 3]
To move forward, actions include normalizing conversations about mental health, educating oneself and others, seeking culturally competent care, and supporting each other in seeking help. Resources for valuable information and tools can be found at kp.org.
In a positive step towards addressing these issues, the California Legislature approved a measure to allow LA County to develop a mental health treatment and housing facility on the Metropolitan State Hospital property.Archuleta Bill article Breaking myths about mental health can build stronger, healthier communities.Fuentes-Nguyen
- Despite National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month emphasizing the importance of discussions about mental health, myths such as the belief that mental health issues are a sign of weakness or that standard mental health assessments are universally effective can lead to a lack of discussion and underreporting, particularly in Black and BIPOC communities.
- In contrast to the Model Minority Myth that suggests Asian Americans are well-off and doing fine, the truth is that this community faces significant mental health challenges, with anxiety and depression rates increasing sharply during the pandemic but less than 9% accessing mental health services.
- As community news sheds light on mental health issues, it's essential to prioritize education about the impact of mental health on physical health, such as sleep, appetite, heart health, and immune function, and encourage seeking culturally competent care to promote stronger, healthier communities.
