BIPOC Mental Health Facts

Here are some key facts about mental health in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color):

  1. Prevalence of Mental Illness: Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. People of Color (POC) have similar rates of mental health disorders as Whites, but these disorders often last longer and result in more significant disability for POC.
  2. Access to Treatment: Mental illness often goes untreated in communities of color. In 2020, 52% of Whites with any mental illness received mental health services, compared to 37.1% of Blacks and 35% of Hispanics. The cost of services or lack of insurance coverage is a major barrier.
  3. Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic exacerbated mental health issues for POC due to systemic social inequities and discrimination. For example, 40.3% of Hispanics experienced current depression during the pandemic, compared to 25.3% of Whites.

 

 

  1. Health Inequities: Significant disparities exist in the average length of life, quality of life, rates of disability, severity of illness, and access to treatment between POC and Whites.
  2. Children and Teens: Black and Latinx children are about 14% less likely than White youth to receive treatment for depression. Over 25% of Black youth exposed to violence are at high risk for PTSD. The suicide rate for Black children aged 5 to 12 is nearly twice that of White children of the same age.
  3. Suicide Rates: Suicide is a leading cause of death for young Black and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander individuals. Self-reported suicide attempts among Black adolescents rose nearly 80% from 1991 to 2019.
  4. LGBTQ Adolescents: Adolescents of color who identify as LGBTQ may be at higher risk for suicide attempts.

These points highlight the critical need for equitable mental health services and support for BIPOC communities.

Source:

https://www.rtor.org/bipoc-mental-health-equity-fact-sheet/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=247031894&utm_content=136034655073&utm_term=black%20mental%20health&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw28W2BhC7ARIsAPerrcIcnQJPHe08EAdxMrqia03NDqgtwXjdfmSUP2cRCkwj6cBC3IxUag4aAgLQEALw_wcB