Only 1 in 3
Black adults in the United States who needs mental health care receives it4
Prioritizing Equitable
Mental Health Care
About the Community Health Equity Alliance
The Community Health Equity Alliance prioritizes community-informed solutions that address serious mental illness care at the state and local levels in select geographies. The Alliance brings together thought leaders of state and local organizations in the areas of mental health advocacy, faith, civic and healthcare professional services. Our aim is to improve the trusted delivery and pursuit of equitable mental health care for Black adults in the United States.
Addressing Mental Health Disparities
Mental illness can affect anyone regardless of gender, geography, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, religion, or other aspects of identity.1 Black adults with lived experience are likely to have less access to culturally appropriate mental health care and are more likely to receive poorer quality care when treated, due to racism and historic systemic disparities.2,3
More than
half (~57%)
of US adults with any mental illness do not receive treatment – this unmet need is greater for communities of color2,5
With only 2%
of US psychiatrists identifying as Black, there is a disproportionate lack of culturally representative mental health care2,6
Only 1 in 3
Black adults in the United States who needs mental health care receives it4
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Together, we can change these statistics and improve equitable mental health care for Black adults in the United States. Learn more about educational and awareness-building initiatives from the Community Health Equity Alliance.
About 1 in 20
American adults experience serious mental health conditions, like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.1,4 Each condition has its own signs and symptoms, such as feeling very sad or low, having difficulty perceiving reality, or being unable to do daily activities.1 There are mental health and community services, treatments, and resources that may help. A comprehensive treatment plan can be very important to an individual’s recovery, resiliency, and well-being.
Our Collaborators
The Community Health Equity Alliance brought together state and local mental health stakeholders in California; Georgia; Houston, Texas; and North Carolina.
Coalitions were established based on the unmet needs at the state level impacting care for diverse patient communities, including:
- Prevalence of serious mental illness
- Rates of access to care for Black adults living with serious mental illness
- Social justice considerations that impact mental healthcare, delivery, and services
- Diverse mental health professional shortages
California
The Community Health Equity Alliance collaborators are strengthening peer support networks, race equity, and system navigation through awareness initiatives and individual journey mapping that support wellness, resilience, and care.
California
The Community Health Equity Alliance collaborators are strengthening peer support networks, race equity, and system navigation through awareness initiatives and individual journey mapping that support wellness, resilience, and care.
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References
- 1. American Psychiatric Association. What is Mental Illness. 2021. Accessed February 2023. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness
- 2. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2019 National Healthcare Quality & Disparities Report. Accessed February 2023. https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/research/findings/nhqrdr/2019qdr.pdf
- 3. American Psychiatric Association. Mental Health Disparities: African Americans. Accessed February 2023. https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-African-Americans.pdf
- 4. National Institute of Mental Health. Mental Health Statistics. Accessed February 2023. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
- 5. Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity: A Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; August 2001. Accessed February 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44243/
- 6. Working with African American/Black Patients. American Psychiatric Association. Accessed February 2023. https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/cultural-competency/education/best-practice-highlights/best-practice-highlights-for-working-with-african-american-patients
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