Mental Health
Mental health is important at all stages of life and constantly affects how you feel, think & act.
Mental health is “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”
In the US, 1 in 5 people experience mental illness.
Indigenous people in America report experiencing serious psychological distress 2.5X more than the general population over a month’s time.
In 2020, ‘Other’ adult populations had the highest percent of any mental illness followed by White, Hispanic, Black and Asian.
Females and younger adults are most likely to have any mental health issue.
Transgender people are nearly 4x as likely as cisgender people to experience a mental illness.
47.4% of Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual people reported mental illness in US adults.
There is no one cause of mental illness. Many factors can increase your risk of mental illness.
There are still many barriers to accessing mental care such as:
- Stigma around mental illness/societal influences
- Limited mental health care providers
- Lack of affordability
- Low awareness
- Lack of education around mental illness
Globally, COVID-19 has led to a 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression.
Despite Blacks and Latinx having similar mental health rates as Whites, there is a lower access to mental health services and care.
There is a lack of cultural understanding and competency from providers which can lead to under diagnosis of mental illness in marginalized and diverse populations.
The mental health crisis imposes serious costs to the well-being of affected individuals, their loved ones,
and society as a whole.
Some of the societal costs of not adequately addressing mental health are increased homelessness, incarceration, and decreased productivity.
It is still unclear the effect Covid-19 has had on mental health now and into the future.
Strategies that can be used to improve mental health:
- Medicaid expansion and increased health insurance
- Increased access to culturally competent therapy/telehealth
- Developing coping skills
- Practicing mindfulness
- Eating a well-balanced diet
- Getting adequate sleep
(7-8 hours regularly) - Being outdoors in nature
- Practicing gratitude
- Building community with others
- Leaning into faith/spirituality
Despite mental health affecting marginalized communities disproportionately, anyone you know could be suffering from a mental illness.
So be kind to one another.
If you or someone you know needs mental health services, call 1-800-662-HELP.
And if you or someone you know may be considering suicide, text HOME to 741741.
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Links and Resources
- Mental Health NPHW
- Native and Indigenous Communities and Mental Health
- WHO Mental Health Fact Sheets
- Reducing the Economic Burden of Unmet Mental Health Needs – The White House Brief
- COVID-19 pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide – WHO
- The Impact of COVID-19 on Minority Mental Health – Mental Health First Aid USA
- Double Jeopardy: Covid-19 and Behavioral Health for Black and Latino Communities in the US – SAMHSA
- Mental Health by the Numbers – National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Five Key Findings on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder by Race/Ethnicity – KFF
- Mental Health post from 2022 National Public Health Week – The Public Health Millennial IG
- The mental health burden of racial and ethnic minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic – National Library of Medicine
- Racial and ethnic disparities in mental health and mental health care during the covid-19 pandemic – National Library of Medicine
