Mental Health disparities in Diverse Populations RJ & AOP Final Project Arianna Battaini

Mental Health disparities in Diverse Populations
Theoretical Framework:
Problem: Mental Health disparities in America throughout diverse populations such as racial/ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities persist due to lack of quality care within our mental health institutions, and harsh stereotypes that exist within our society.
Objective: To decrease mental health disparities in diverse populations.
Theory/Why it exists: This problem came to be from historically ineffective methods used in our country to treat mental illness. This started with Trephination. This was one of the earliest forms of mental health treatment seen in America, it removed a small part of a person’s skull using a bore, auger or saw. It was dated from around 7,000 years ago. Harsh stereotypes related to mental illness within diverse populations came to be through the history of this mistreatment of these populations in our country.
Research Question: What policies can be set in place to reach the objective?
Research Answer/Theoretical Framework Conclusion:
Some solutions include:
Sensitivity training
Better quality training for people working within mental health institutions
Better measurements set in place to teach different types of humility, sensitivity, etc.
Policy Recommendation: Mandatory overall government sensitivity training for all individuals working in the field of mental health.
Alliances/Current Social Action Campaigns and/or Groups:
National Institute of Mental Health.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the leading federal agency for research on mental disorders.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.
This alliance works to lessen disparities nationally, which includes all BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities and others that face disproportionate inequities due to systemic barriers and historical adversity.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
This foundation’s efforts are directed towardcreating a safe place for people of all background to talk, (whether its about having thoughts of suicide or just being in emotional distress) and integrating and coordinating suicide prevention activities across multiple sectors and settings.
'Every Mind Matters' by Public Health England, Freuds Health (and several other agencies)
These organizations work to lessen disparities across diverse populations in mental healthcare.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
This department exists in an effort to hold the government responsible for all of it’s individual’s mental healthcare.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
“The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.” - About Us | SAMHSA
“Minority Mental Health Month is a nationwide effort developed by Mental Health America to ‘shed light on the multitude of mental health experiences within BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities and others that face disproportionate inequities due to systemic barriers and historical adversity.’” - American Counseling Association
These efforts have made a significant impact.
We can see that diverse populations have received better mental healthcare than during the times or slavery and segregation, but like racism, we have come NOWHERE near solving the problem.
What we can learn from them is to keep putting forward our best efforts to ensure quality mental healthcare in diverse populations.
Let’s talk about Intersectionality:
Intersectionality, n.: The interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage; a theoretical approach based on such a premise. (Oxford Dic