As July comes to a close, join us in reflecting on the importance of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Discussing mental health can be challenging, especially with family members and loved ones who may not fully understand this issue. This lack of understanding often leads individuals to suffer silently, undiagnosed, and ill-equipped to handle the daily struggles they endure due to their mental health issues.
It is seen time and time again that the lack of significant intervention can lead to long-term effects that impact an individual’s personal, professional, and physical well-being. This is why early intervention from mental health professionals, such as therapists, psychiatrists, and treatment facilities, plays a crucial role in treating mental health diagnoses.
Navita Health, based in Texas, offers a helping hand to both individuals and families seeking assistance in navigating the journey of mental health treatment and finding a reliable mental health facility in Texas.
This article explores the struggles minorities may experience and the practices that can be implemented to live a long and prosperous life.
Minorities Being a Majority in Texas
In Texas, minorities constitute for more than half of the population, with Hispanics or Latinos making up 40.2% as of 2022, a figure that continues to rise. Additionally, 20% of the population includes other minority groups such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and more.
Of the total population in Texas as of 2023, about 36.8% of adults reported having symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, both minority and non minority.
Despite this significant representation, only 11 out of every 1,000 Texans seek mental health treatment, with these individuals comprising just 6.7% of the total population. This low percentage is partly due to the lack of resources in the state.
Mental Health in Minority Communities
Cultural stigma is a significant barrier to mental health care. In many cultures, mental health issues are viewed as a personal weakness or something to be ashamed of, leading individuals to hide their struggles and avoid seeking help. This stigma is compounded by a lack of culturally competent mental health professionals who understand the unique cultural and social contexts of minority patients. Without culturally sensitive care, many individuals feel misunderstood and are less likely to engage in or continue treatment.
Minorities are also at a higher risk of misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of mental health conditions. This can be attributed to several factors, including cultural differences in expressing symptoms and biases among healthcare providers.
Common diagnoses in minority communities, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, among other underlying or dual diagnoses all stem from trauma experienced at some point in life, usually early on in development.
When studying the effects of trauma in minority groups, it was found these diagnoses can be hereditary or a result from enduring multiple traumatic events, even those experienced indirectly. It is our duty as mental health professionals to not only unpack and understand each individual’s unique trauma, but to help the individual being treated to come to terms with their trauma as well.
Understanding Trauma
Trauma occurs when a person experiences events that cause extreme fear and distress, rendering the individual inconsolable and unable to cope without intervention, usually psychiatric.
Individuals who have experienced trauma may feel a loss of safety, a sense of self, or control over their emotions. If untreated, they may feel the need to isolate themselves from personal relationships or act out to gain a sense of control over their lives.
Degrees of Trauma
- Acute Trauma: This involves a singular traumatic event that is brief but overwhelming to the individual’s nervous system, such as a car accident, assault, natural disaster, or the sudden death of a loved one.
- Chronic Trauma: This type of trauma is defined by prolonged, repeated, and/or ongoing events of distress such as domestic abuse, sexual abuse, long-term illnesses, or neglect.
- Complex Trauma: Arises from experiencing multiple singular or continuous traumatic events, leading to feelings of detachment from oneself. Complex trauma can stem from interpersonal relationships and may feel relentless and inescapable, potentially repeating through generations.
Generational Trauma
Certain types of trauma can be traced to specific events experienced by an individual, but generational trauma, also known as intergenerational trauma, is unique. It refers to trauma experienced by a family member generations back that was not addressed before another generation emerged. This trauma can be passed down through affected family dynamics or even epigenetically, manifesting as higher probabilities of anxiety, depression, complex PTSD, isolation, communication issues, and insecurity in the newly affected generation.
Recognizing the issue and seeking proper treatment can not only help the individual but also break the cycle of generational trauma being passed on.
Other Causes of Mental Health Struggles in Minorities
Generational trauma is just one of many causes of mental health struggles within minority communities. Other significant factors include:
- Financial disparities and struggles
- Parentification of adolescents (forcing children to take on adult responsibilities)
- Experiences of racial discrimination personally or witnessing it with loved ones
- Cultural expectations at home versus outside of the home
- Denial of mental health struggles by family and community members
Leaving these issues unmanaged can lead to severe consequences later in life. Statistics show that minority adolescents are less likely to receive mental health treatment than their non-minority counterparts. Furthermore, minority adolescents have a higher likelihood of dying by suicide. These statistics underscore the importance of offering support and professional care to the minority community, starting from adolescence.
How Navita Health Can Help
Navita Health recognizes the disparity in mental health treatment within the minority community and collaborates with patients to personalize treatment plans that best meet individual needs from adolescence and onward. By adopting a holistic approach, Navita Health’s staff guides each patient through every step of treatment, from carefully assessing specific diagnoses to exploring the best therapies available.
Recognizing and seeking help for mental health issues can be difficult, especially with the stigma surrounding mental health treatment in some minority communities. Navita Health’s trauma-informed therapists and clinicians are ready to meet individuals wherever they are in their journey toward finding relief from personal struggles.
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by minority communities in accessing adequate mental health care. By understanding the unique challenges faced by minorities regarding mental health, acknowledging the importance of seeking help, and knowing where to find reliable support, we can make strides toward improving mental health awareness and treatment within these communities.
By raising awareness, advocating for change, and promoting access to quality care, we can create a future where mental health support is equitable and accessible for all. National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is a crucial time to reflect on these issues and advocate for better mental health care for all.
Contact Navita Health today to speak with a caring staff member and learn more about the programs available for you or your loved one.
