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Everyone deserves equal access to quality health care and resources. Yet, systemic racism creates barriers to quality mental health care for many members of marginalized ethnic groups. Frequent racially traumatic events have triggered mental health challenges for communities of color.
Read on to explore how systemic racism impacts mental health and how we can work together to resolve mental health disparities in disadvantaged communities.
Systemic racism describes the discriminatory actions, beliefs and unjust policies ingrained into education, the workplace, the economy, housing, the criminal justice system and health care. That means you likely experience, witness, or may accidentally participate in systemic racism on a regular basis.
Systemic racism arrived in the U.S. hundreds of years ago. Colonists took land from Native Americans and enslaved African Americans for many generations. Discriminatory practices, intentional or not, have continued in many different forms.
Systemic racism creates or worsens mental health challenges for many people of color. According to the American Sociological Association, race-related stressors can impact the mental health of disadvantaged racial and ethnic communities.
One way systemic racism impacts mental health is through racial trauma. Racial trauma is an emotional or physical response to experiencing or witnessing racism, discrimination or racially charged violence. Subtle day-to-day interactions that marginalize, insult or dehumanize ethnic minorities (microaggressions) can add up and lead to racial trauma. When you’re targeted by racism, it can be embarrassing, scary and make you feel disconnected.
For many Black people in the U.S., racial discrimination and police-involved killings have made getting pulled over a valid fear. Black drivers are 20 percent more likely to be stopped by police than white drivers.
Virus blaming has resulted in verbal abuse and physical attacks, causing fear among many Asian Americans. The 2021 Atlanta shooting that killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent, has also taken a toll on AAPI mental health.
Everyone processes racial trauma in different ways, and the effects may vary from person to person. Racial trauma can lead to symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There’s nothing normal about racism, and it’s common to experience a range of emotions when facing racial trauma.
When left untreated, racial trauma can lead to:
Racial trauma can also impact your mental and physical health, ability to take care of yourself, maintain relationships, concentrate at work or continue the hobbies you enjoy.
Racial trauma and everyday racism can impact your long-term mental health and quality of life. There are several strategies for coping with racial trauma:
Systemic racism is a critical barrier to achieving mental health equity for all. Barriers to mental health care can delay care, prolong mental health challenges and escalate symptoms.
Other barriers include:
That’s why many mental health professionals are strengthening their cultural competency to relate to people from different groups and backgrounds. Culturally responsible mental health care can help address the unique needs of each patient.
Others may wonder what exactly therapy can do for them or are skeptical about the practice of psychological therapy. Mental health support can help you develop coping strategies for your unique needs, validate your feelings, improve relationships and reduce your risk of complications.
Achieving mental health equity for all starts with ending the stigma around mental health. Educate yourself and support others struggling with mental health challenges. Expanding culturally responsible care can address the unique needs of more diverse communities.
Systemic racism has existed in the U.S. for hundreds of years. While systemic change has come slowly, progress toward racial justice and mental health equity is encouraging. Taking action can make a difference and help improve your mental health. There are several ways you can join the fight against systemic racism:
While there is still a lot more work to do, conversations about mental health, systemic racism and barriers to health equity are a critical step forward. Conversations can lead to awareness, action and systemic change that works for everyone without bias of their culture, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or socioeconomic status.
Mental health and addiction services
Learn morePosted September 20, 2015
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