Racial Disparity in Mental Health Care

When we say racial disparity in mental health, we mean a difference in the way that people are treated when they belong to certain racial or racialized groups. There's a difference in ways that Black patients are treated, the treatment that Latinx patients receive, the treatment for Asian-Americans. So there's disparate treatment, which means different treatment, unfortunately, that is provided by mental health providers, psychiatrists at various levels. A frequent disparity that we see is with access to care. There's a limited access to care in Black communities.

We also see a difference in the level of care that people receive. Are they offered only emergent treatment? Are they offered only restraints? Are they given high levels of antipsychotics? And this is something we see time and time again in Black communities, unfortunately. Our children over-diagnosed with ADHD or oppositional defiance disorder. Yes, we see this difference in the diagnosing and the interactions just clinically for Black and Latino or Latina children. Also on the medications that are offered. There's a difference in the treatment that is offered to patients.

We see this frequently in substance use disorder treatment. Are they offered the same treatment that you would offer a white, insured, suburban patient? And no, they're not. We also see the difference in even therapy. There are all types of misconceptions about whether or not Black people would be willing to accept therapy. And so sometimes we just see that it wasn't even an option given to them. You have to acknowledge and you have to own that disparate treatment is a real thing. So the first step is really understanding and validating these concerns for everyone.

And next, it's questioning. If you see something going on, if you see that someone is not being offered the same treatment and the only difference is their racial or ethnic background, ask the question. Say something about it. And you have that right. So look these things up so that you can advocate for your family members, for your friends, and especially for yourselves.