National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is a great time to bring awareness to the challenges that minority communities face regarding mental and behavioral health. This observance is crucial for highlighting the unique struggles these communities encounter in accessing mental health care and the treatment they need.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH), in 2022, 35.2% of multiracial adults aged 18 or older reported experiencing any mental illness in the past year, which is significantly higher compared to 24.6% of White adults. Furthermore, 11.8% of multiracial adults experienced a serious mental illness in the past year, compared to 6.5% of White adults. There are also significant disparities in mental health treatment among those who experienced a major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year.

Resources:

NAMI Minority Mental Health Awareness Toolkit

CMS OMH Coverage to Care (C2C) Roadmap to Behavioral Health

Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections

10 Resources to Support BIYOC during National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month