Ending the silence on National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

Jason Futch  reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to acknowledge the unique challenges mental health plays on racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in 2020, fewer than one in every two African American adults received care for mental health. In 2018, Asian Americans were 60 percent less likely to receive mental health treatment than non-Hispanic Whites. Obstacles for many include a lack of health insurance, less access to treatment, and stigma. Mental health encompasses emotional, cognitive and social well-being, and can influence how a person thinks and feels. Ev