Introduction
Embracing a multifaceted identity can be liberating yet challenging in this complex world. The BIPOC community experiences this in a way that is at once very different, yet very much the same. We will go through some of the blocks that hold BIPOC individuals back from mental health and how therapy can break down those barriers.
Stigma Associated with Mental Health
So often, mental health stigma comes from crises. Stigma continues because of the fear of the unknown, especially when someone appears out of control. More fears are produced within BIPOC communities from social inequalities. Some of the challenges include:
- Fear of Being Criminalized
Picture a mother whose son is deeply entrapped in an acute mental health episode. She’s terrified. She’s not just scared of her son, not just scared of the thought of picking up the phone and calling 911 or the police. Why? Because she believes that because her son is Black, being aggressive will get him criminalized. This fear is borne out by the statistics, which demonstrate that a visibly mentally ill, unarmed Black male is far more likely to be killed by police than an unarmed White male. It’s fear that keeps most BIPOC families from seeking help when they need it.
- Differences in Access
Statistics are rather blunt: more than 20% of American adults and 16% of children have some kind of mental health disorder, yet less than half of them get treated. Nearly 50% of White Americans with mental illness seek therapy or counseling, but the percentage for BIPOC communities is significantly lower.
Only 33% of Latinx, 31% of Black, and 25% of Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals receive needed therapy. This very clearly calls for an immediate need to attend to disparities in need.
Surmounting Barriers: Solutions and Advocacy
- Culturally competent therapy
BIPOC clients feel more at home with therapists who understand their worldview. Competent therapy appreciates the significance of racial and ethnic identification. It allows the clientele to relate to therapists who understand their unique experiences and struggles. In so doing, we break barriers and open up safe spaces for transparent conversation.
- Crisis Intervention Teams
A large part of it is community advocacy. People in the Houston community advocated for CITs, which are crisis intervention teams. These are groups of social workers and specially trained people who respond to an acute situation. In this way, we are able to divert a person from the criminal justice system and into proper care, hopefully saving his life and destroying the stigma.
- Financial access
Affordability remains to be the biggest barrier. Very limited choices are available for either uninsured BIPOC or those with plans that do not cover therapy. Advocacy should be around opening up affordable opportunities to mental health services with financial barriers not able to be a limitation.
Conclusion
Embracing the BIPOC identity recognizes the struggles and embraces the strengths and fosters support. Let’s continue to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and all work together to create a world where everyone is seen, heard, and understood. Remember you are not alone in this journey. Seek therapy and shine your identity as a BIPOC brightly.