Many factors are driving the awareness of mental health in the United States, ranging from the launch of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 to the mental health implications of the current COVID-19 public health crisis.
However, we still have a ways to go before mental health is treated equally with physical health.
As a country, we’ve made strides in addressing health inequities, but there’s more to be done.
People of color continue to bear a disproportionate burden of disease, death and disability, and mental health is no exception.
When it comes to behavioral health care, the term “stigma” is often used to describe the shame or embarrassment some people feel about mental illness.
Therefore, addressing stigma is important because the very concept of shame makes it difficult for many individuals with mental illness to seek help.
Recognizing July as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, there is no more appropriate time to talk about mental health disparities among minorities.
People of color continue to experience inequitable mental health care, and the solution to closing the gap is long overdue.
When discussing public health, we often hear the terms “health equity”, “health equality” and “health inequality”, but what do they really mean?
What are the subtle variances in meaning, and why is it important to understand these differences?
The individual voice of mental illness took a stand at the fourth annual Kennedy Forum Illinois, held in Chicago on January 16 and 17, as high-profile speakers shared deeply personal stories related to their mental health struggles.
A leading forum participant, Beacon Health Options (Beacon) joined these speakers in their quest to eradicate stigma.