National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: Prioritizing Mental Health Equity for Minority Youth

Therefore, it is essential to consider the cultural factors which have influenced the person’s background and current presentation. Culturally sensitive research does not imply ticking a set of boxes which can be applied to make a study more palatable, or a paragraph paying lip service to cultural differences. Participants value research communities where they have the ability to control the direction of the research . It is important to consider who the research is for and ‘whether research is dominated by certain cultural agendas, views or positions’ . The Tuskegee syphilis study is infamous for its abuses of African American communities and has led to ‘deep mistrust of academic and research institutions and investigators’ . There is a precedent of researchers acting as ‘safari-scholars’; swooping in to poke and prod, and then swiftly exiting , with indigenous communities being exploited and their knowledge marginalised through the process of research .

General study characteristics

Task-shifting is “a process whereby specific tasks are moved, where appropriate, to health workers with shorter training and https://www.mountaineers.org/blog/honoring-indigenous-peoples-through-education fewer qualifications” (World Health Organization, 2008, p. 7). Federal grants have supported recruiting and retaining AI/AN doctoral psychology students, including the Indians into Psychology Doctoral Education program at the Universities of North Dakota and Montana, American Indians into Psychology at Oklahoma State University, and Alaska Natives into Psychology at the University of Alaska (Trimble & Clearing-Sky, 2009). In a qualitative study, AI elders discussed that healing from intergenerational historical trauma involves tribal cultural reclamation, including speaking one’s native language, and spirituality (Grayshield et al., 2015).

Cultural beliefs about mental illness

• There is also a general sense of shared suffering (Brave Heart, Chase, Elkins, & Altschul, 2011) that may be reflected in population-level mental health disparities.
• Overcoming these challenges requires collaboration between policymakers, educators, and healthcare institutions to expand training, diversify the workforce, and promote minority mental health awareness.
• This principle recognizes that traditional Western therapeutic approaches may not resonate with all cultural groups.
• Applying these methods can help youth navigate challenging communication scenarios, enhancing their confidence and outcomes.

Being culturally competent involves learning about different cultural practices and beliefs and developing approaches to treatment that respect these differences. All the early training I did in cultural… it was like okay, well this is half a seminar or a workshop on culture, on Hispanic culture as if there are these monolithic things that all black people share these characteristics. Repeated use of the word background in the focus groups underlies an understanding of culture in mental health as static and inherited rather than dynamic and acquired (Gaines 1994). Their ability to recognize and respect cultural differences, effectively communicate, tailor treatment approaches, address stigma and disparities, and enhance treatment outcomes is invaluable. You may not realize it, but your background or culture has the potential to shape how you view and understand mental health as a whole. In fact, 1 in 4 adults said a negative experience with a care provider like unfair treatment, disrespect, or a language barrier led to worse health or made them less likely to seek care.

Many participants shared that experiences of marginalization deepened their empathy and strengthened their commitment to culturally affirming care. Cultural identity plays a significant role in shaping a client’s perception of mental health and their approach to treatment. Mental health professionals can develop cultural competence by engaging in continuous training programs that focus on cultural awareness, humility, and cross-cultural skills. We invite you to reach out to us and learn more about how we can work together to tailor mental health treatments that meet your unique needs.

Appendix A Case Study of the Hikairo Schema in Practice

Despite the prevalence of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), which affect up to one in five new mothers, screening and treatment remain inconsistent, and the shortage of trained perinatal mental health providers is severe. In Brooklyn and the Bronx, Black and Brown communities experience pregnancy-related mortality at rates approximately nine times higher than white communities, driven in large part by untreated mental health conditions rather than obstetric complications alone. Championed by Senator Charles Schumer, this federal funding builds on support in FY 2024 from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, which launched the development of a perinatal mental health curriculum, strengthen partnerships with city health agencies, and support an annual education and advocacy summit in Brownsville. Using qualitative study designs might help to better understand what strategies are helpful to overcome healthcare disparities why and for whom. Obviously, these groups are very heterogeneous and their needs and perceived barriers to healthcare may differ substantially.