“The biggest challenge faced by diverse communities when it comes to mental health is accessibility and cultural stigma. I’m Asian and it is heavily stigmatized, especially for men, to seek out mental help. I think tackling those types of issues is a larger societal problem, but beginning with those issues in smaller communities will help eventually make things better access to cultural competent providers.”
“The will and capacity to even acknowledge mental health as a real health issue, and the language and cultural components that confound these barriers.”
“Stigma, lack of knowledge about services, culturally inviting programs.”
“Access to culturally competent providers.”
“The provision of quality services and enablers to resolve crises at crucial moments.”
“Racial discrimination and judgement.”
“Stigma.”
“A lack of language resources and a cultural bias to discussing mental health.”
“Getting them to recognize that family life could run smoother if they would reach out to support groups and NAMI’s Family-to-Family class.”
“The lack of comprehension and respect to cultural conditions and solutions to mental health symptoms.”
“I love that you used ‘diverse communities’ instead of ‘minority communities’ like is been used in the past. I will suggest learn more about political participation, strategies and organization in terms of our gente tenga una voz en Salud Mental comcambios significativos.”
“Economic and cultural barriers to getting adequate treatment.”
“Having mental health providers that look like the population we serve. I feel that this has been changing in recent years but mental health remains a largely white field. We could be more effective if we had providers that look like the populations we serve. Representation matters.”
“Starting the process and asking for help outside of the community sometimes.”
“Overcoming the stigma of mental illness and finding ways to engage with the community that respect that this is an uncomfortable and maybe even private issue, but that recovery is possible — but only possible when we address the issue.”
“That there are many ways to get help and more than one approach. And if you can’t easily find help, keep looking.”
“Access to free mental health programs.”
“Languages and stigma against seeking help.”
“Until systemic racism is looked at by agencies, organizations, programs, nonprofits, warm lines/suicide hotlines, etc., it will be hard to REALLY comprehend and identify the gaps and disparities faced by people of color.”
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