Mental health inequality
[4] African Americans and other members of racial minorities are more likely to be uninsured or have Medicaid, limiting the amount and type of access that they have mental health outpatient sources.
More specifically, African Americans are more likely to use emergency services or alternative treatments instead of going to a specialized physician for mental health issues.
[7] The LGBTQ+ population, while still open to the same disparities as racial minority groups, is often confronted with the problem of being denied mental health treatment because of the gender they identify as or their sexual orientation.
Most, if not all, homeless individuals live in poverty, which as stated before, causes them to have less access to proper mental healthcare or health insurance.
[12] Furthermore, the stress from previous mental health problems and economic instability, tend to become worse once an individual becomes homeless.
[12] Due to homeless individuals not having any economic independence, they tend to lack adequate care from mental health specialists and this causes them to be put in unsafe conditions or situations.
Another socioeconomic factor that can lead to barriers and inequalities in accessing mental health care services include financial restraints.
These barriers include but are not limited to the fact that most parents of immigrant children do not understand the United States educational system, inadequate English as a Second Language programs, and segregation.
In fact, compared to white populations, minority groups tend to have lower rates of access to quality care, but still have a greater amount of disabilities that pertain to mental health.
[21] When thinking about the racism in this country, this somewhat makes sense, because black men experience certain aspects of discrimination that are specific to their group.
When we are talking about racial disparities in mental health, not only do we need to acknowledge the lack of access that minority groups have to the proper health care, but we also need to understand that being in a minority racial group puts individuals at a higher risk for developing psychiatric disorders in the first place.
[22] Among Latinos, those without a legal status in the United States suffer a higher burden of being diagnose with a mental health disorders as their journey to the country has caused them to experience traumatizing events including sexual abuse, kidnapping, and the constant fear of deportation.
[23] A possible reason that the author stated: "This theory postulates that Whites have a greater propensity to avoid living in poverty communities because they are more likely to enjoy social and economic advantages.
Another barrier to the shortage of mental health support is the lack of this type of healthcare available because of the rural settings that contain a high population of minorities.
[24] External environmental factors, such as family, community, and work, can influence the inclination to reach out for mental health counseling.This has been a problem for minority races that need the same services.
Problems can extend to the point of racial beliefs of health professionals and researchers influencing the diagnoses and treatments developed for some communities.
James Burgess Waldram wrote a 2004 text Revenge of the Windigo (the title referring to "Wendigo psychosis", which he asserts is an artificial construction of anthropologists and psychologists) discussing the behavioral health industry's difficulties successfully analyzing and treating the needs of indigenous people in the United States and Canada.
Those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer have a higher risk of having mental health issues, most likely as a result of the continued discrimination and victimization they receive at the hands of others.
Although it was good for the majority of the population to still find connection, LGBTQ+ youth and emerging adults were beginning to experience higher rates of mental health issues due to social disconnection and cyber-bullying.
While parts of society today are not accepting of the LGBTQ+ community and make public statements to advertise their discontent, an identifying LGBTQ+ can also have low confidence and a lack of self-worth that furthers these negative mental health effects.
Oftentimes, the lack of familial support is more conducive of detrimental behaviors, such as drug and illegal substance abuse, which can cause further harm to the individual.
Research has shown that compared to heterosexuals and other groups in the LGBTQ+ community, older people have a higher incidence of suffering from mental health disorder.
[30] One of the most common reasons why older citizens refrain from seeking mental health care is due to the past discrimination by medical professionals.
The location of genders and sex within the social construct can be a great determinant of risks and predictors of mental health disorders.
Adult women are at a high risk of experiencing mental health disorders during their pregnancy, however, most physicians do not address this until the postpartum period.
Much of mental health disparity comes from a lack of access to healthcare in low socioeconomic communities and, often, underprivileged minorities.
This plan also addresses mental health inequalities by acknowledging the need for greater access in low and middle-income countries.
Many developing countries lack policies that address the basic needs and rights of people suffering from mental illnesses.
[37] According to research, patients in developing countries frequently leave hospitals without knowing their diagnosis or what medications they are taking, they wait too long for referrals, appointments, and treatment, and they are not respected or given adequate emotional support.
Studies have demonstrated that preventative programs that take place in clinics or other healthcare settings are more beneficial to teenagers, despite the possibility that they may be successful in schools.
