Introduction
Mental illnesses continue to be a significant health issue among individuals across all demographics. However, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals encounter additional challenges when seeking treatment for their condition. The purpose of this article is to examine why BIPOC individuals living with mental illness need to be cautious when seeking treatment, particularly regarding the prevalence of racial disparities in diagnosis and treatment.
Prevalence of Racial Disparities in Mental Health Diagnosis
Studies have consistently indicated a prevalence of racial disparities in mental health diagnosis. Black men, in particular, are more likely to be over-diagnosed with schizophrenia and less likely to receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder and mood disorders (Morgan et al., 2015). This can lead to inadequate treatment and exacerbation of the symptoms, leading to the development of comorbidities and a decline in overall quality of life. Research has shown that these inconsistencies in diagnosis could be the result of implicit biases that mental health professionals harbor against individuals based on their race (Mehta et al., 2018).
Cultural Competence Among Mental Health Professionals
Cultural competence among mental health professionals is necessary to address the disparities in diagnosis and treatment of BIPOC individuals with mental illness. To provide adequate care, mental health professionals should possess awareness of how culture and societal factors can impact the presentation of symptoms in individuals and strive to identify the impacts of systemic racial discrimination on BIPOC individuals’ mental health. Lack of cultural competence perpetuates existing inequalities in healthcare systems, where inadequate care can be disproportionately allocated to those individuals identified as minorities.
Impact of Prison-based Mental Health Care
BIPOC individuals also encounter multiple impediments when seeking access to mental health care. The provision of mental health care within prisons compounds the access challenges already present among BIPOC individuals. The prison mental health care service focuses on inmates rather than the broader community (Morrissey et al., 2002). Such a system, by definition, is inadequate in its delivery of care to individuals with lesser economic and social privileges.
Conclusion
In conclusion, systemic racism, stigma, and the inadequate healthcare systems disproportionately impact BIPOC individuals with mental illnesses. To ensure that BIPOC individuals with mental illnesses receive adequate care, a need exists to promote cultural competency within the healthcare professionals, address explicit and implicit biases that lead to discrepancies in diagnosis, and adjust treatment access policies. BIPOC individuals need to be made aware of the importance of being cautious while seeking treatment for their mental health wellbeing. The incorporation of such measures is critical to guarantee equitable access to effective mental health care for all individuals, regardless of identity.
References:
Mehta, S., Farina, A., & Haslam, N. (2018). Biases in perceptions of distress and competence in schizophrenia: The role of collective and individual level stigma. Schizophrenia bulletin, 44(3), 521-530.
Morgan, C., Reininghaus, U., Reichenberg, A., Frissa, S., Hotopf, M., Hatch, S. L., & SELCoH study team. (2015). Adversity, cannabis use and psychotic experiences: evidence of cumulative and synergistic effects. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 207(6), 556-561.
Morrissey, J. P., Domino, M. E., & Cuddeback, G. S. (2002). Expedited admission to jail-based mental health services: prebooking detention and criminal justice processing. Psychiatric Services, 53(12), 1593-1598.