Approximately 53 million Americans are living with a mental, emotional or behavioral health disorder, but not all are diagnosed and treated at the same rate, according to an AmeriHealth Caritas news release.
AmeriHealth cited the American Psychiatric Association, which stated that black adults are less likely to be offered evidence-based drug therapy or psychotherapy compared to the general population. They are also less likely to receive guideline-compliant care and less often to be included in mental health research, compared to whites.
“The mental health care system was not designed with everyone in mind,” Yavar Moghimi, MD, an AmeriHealth Caritas behavioral health medical officer said in the statement. “Provider bias and systemic barriers cause many black people to feel that treatment will not help them.”
Challenges to proper diagnosis and treatment for underrepresented populations include the need for a more diverse behavioral health care workforce, as well as a lack of cultural competency or the skills, behaviors, and attitudes necessary to work effectively with different populations. cultural groups, AmeriHealth said in the release. This can lead to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment and generate patient mistrust. Such barriers can have significant consequences, especially in marginalized communities.
In 2019, suicide became the second leading cause of death among black teens and young adults ages 15 to 24, and black women remain one of the worst-treated US populations for depression, according to the release.
Moghimi recommends that patients consider the following to better assess whether a mental health provider is the right fit and can provide culturally competent care:
- if the provider asks about problems in the context of your social network, such as family, friends or other people in your community;
- if the provider asks what you think are the causes of your problems;
- if the provider asks about the most important aspects of their origin or identity and if they make a difference in a particular topic;
- if the provider asks about barriers that may or have prevented you from getting the help you need, including stigma or social determinants of health;
- and whether the provider is seeking your concerns about cultural or background differences and what your expectations are for diagnosis and treatment.
According to AmeriHealth, culturally competent mental health providers must take these issues into account when attempting to provide responsive care in the context of culture and inequities.
“Find a mental health care provider who can [incorporate] the unique culture, beliefs and values of an individual in your care are important to successful treatment,” Moghimi said in the statement.