Minority Mental Health Awareness
Did you know July is Minority Mental Health Awareness month? National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness in the United States. At Aspen Counseling Services we recognize the importance of bringing awareness to the experiences and difficulties of all people in any circumstance. Minority groups have difficult experiences with mental health for many reasons, including lack of access to quality mental health care services, cultural stigma surrounding mental health care, discrimination, and overall lack of awareness about mental health.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health lists a few of the main disparities of the experiences of those in minority groups:
“In 2021, it is estimated that only 39 percent of Black or African American adults, 25 percent of Asian adults, and 36 percent of Hispanic/Latino adults with any mental illness were treated, compared to 52 percent of non-Hispanic white adults.
“One study suggests that Hispanic men who identify as LGBTQI+ experience higher rates of body image disorders than Hispanic women, Black and African American men and women, and white men and women who identify as LGBTQI+.
“According to the Veterans Health Administration Department of Veterans Affairs, American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans report experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at double the rate of non-Hispanic white Veterans – 20.5 percent compared to 11.6 percent.
In 2020, suicide was the leading cause of death among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders aged 10 to 19; it was the second leading cause of death among those aged 20 to 34.”
Minority groups deserve to feel seen and heard through all their life’s experiences. At Aspen Counseling Services, we support people of all ethnic and racial groups in their mental health journey. Please reach out by calling or texting our office at 801-449-0017. We have offices in both American Fork and St. George Utah as well as teletherapists available for remote sessions. Learn about our therapists to get started!
If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call the crisis hotline at 988 or dial 911.
Thank you for reading!
