What Is the Community Health Equity Alliance (CHEA)?

The Community Health Equity Alliance is an initiative that 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/African Ancestry adults in the United States.

Why is CHEA Important?

Mental illness can affect anyone regardless of gender, geography, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, religion, or other aspects of identity.¹ Black/African Ancestry 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

Our Collaborators

The Community Health Equity Alliance brought together state and local mental health stakeholders in these sites:

2022 Legacy Sites

Georgia
Houston, Texas
Los Angeles, California
North Carolina

2023 Expansion Sites

Illinois
Louisiana
Maryland
Pennsylvania

2024 Expansion Sites

Colorado
Connecticut
Ohio
Southern Nevada

Join the Crisis Can't Wait Campaign

Join CHEA in creating a shared urgency in reducing mental health crises in Black/African Ancestry communities around the country, because crisis can’t wait!

Learn More

Only 1 in 3

Black/African Ancestry adults in the United States who needs mental health care receives it⁴

More than
half (~57%)

of US adults with any mental illness do not receive treatment – this unmet need is greater for communities of color^2,5

With only 2%

of US psychiatrists identifying as Black/African Ancestry, there is a disproportionate lack of culturally representative mental health care^2,6

Together, we can change these statistics and improve equitable mental health care for Black/African Ancestry 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.

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