Prioritizing Minority Mental Health

Mental Health Matters

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is just as important as physical health throughout our lives. Mental health issues are common – nearly 1 in 4 US adults live with a mental illness. Mental health issues are treatable and often preventable.

Public Health Organizations Can Prioritize Minority Mental Health

Public health organizations have a role to play in improving mental health for people from racial and ethnic minority groups. They can ensure mental health programming and policies incorporate and address:

• Best practices for reducing racism, social determinants of health, data on mental health, and the historical, social, and cultural factors impacting racial and ethnic minority groups.

• Perspectives, ideas, and decision-making from racial and ethnic minority groups at all stages of programming – from planning to evaluation.

• Evaluation and monitoring activities to assess progress towards health equity and elimination of racial disparities.

• Culturally and linguistically appropriate, inclusive, and respectful educational materials and communication activities.

• Partnership activities to fill gaps in expertise and ensure diverse representation.

Healthcare Systems Can Prioritize Minority Mental Health

Healthcare systems have a role to play in improving mental health for people from racial and ethnic minority groups. They can:

• Screen patients for depression and other mental health conditions and refer patients to accessible mental health care services.

• Make mental health educational materials available to all patients during their appointments, via patient portals, and in waiting rooms.

• Recruit mental healthcare providers who reflect the race and ethnicity of the populations served.

• Provide cultural humility training to mental healthcare providers.

• Ensure mental healthcare services are culturally and linguistically appropriate.

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month but health equity is a priority year-round at CDC. Everyone benefits when people from racial and ethnic minority groups can thrive. We all have a role to play in promoting mental health for people in racial and ethnic minority groups. Share this information with your colleagues and in your communities!

CDC’s Office of Health Equity collaborated with the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s Division of Population Health on this article.