Who Gets Left Out? Racial Inequities in Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment-Handouts: Slides

Handouts: Slides

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The document titled "Who Gets Left Out? Racial Inequities in Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment" discusses the racial inequities that exist in mental health diagnosis and treatment. The authors, Michelle P. Durham and Christine M. Crawford, highlight the historical context of black mental health and the role of structural racism in perpetuating health disparities. They discuss the concepts of health disparity and health inequity, emphasizing that health inequity is a state of unfairness and injustice in health outcomes. The authors also delve into the impact of structural racism on mental health, including clinician bias and limited access to quality care for marginalized communities.<br /><br />The document highlights the consequences of underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis in mental health, particularly among black youth. It addresses factors that contribute to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis, such as symptom presentation, stigma, and clinician bias. The authors discuss the overrepresentation of black students in suspension, expulsion, and the juvenile justice system, which is often referred to as the school-to-prison pipeline. They also underscore the consequences of untreated mental illness, including impaired work productivity, incarceration, substance use disorders, chronic medical conditions, family and community disruption, academic achievement, poverty, and suicidality.<br /><br />To address these inequities, the authors propose strategies such as research funding to study black youth mental health, integrating mental health services into primary care, advocating for mental health parity in reimbursement, diversifying the mental health workforce, and promoting cultural humility in clinical practice. They encourage collaboration between mental health professionals and individuals receiving care to ensure culturally relevant and effective treatment.<br /><br />Overall, this document sheds light on the racial inequities in mental health diagnosis and treatment, and identifies strategies to reduce biases and disparities in the field.

Keywords

racial inequities

mental health diagnosis

treatment

structural racism

underdiagnosis

misdiagnosis

black youth

clinician bias

school-to-prison pipeline

untreated mental illness