For many people, lack of understanding and stigma around mental illness and substance abuse can prevent them from accessing needed services. In honor of National Minority Mental Health Awareness month, we talked with a culturally diverse group from Cenpatico’s Care Coordination Team about the increased challenges that minority, and culturally diverse individuals can face in seeking out mental health or substance abuse services.
‘In the African-American community, acknowledging that you have a mental health issue is like having a dark dirty secret. It is something that you know is there, but it is also something you just do not want to talk about. In some cases, African-Americans will seek out the counsel of their church leaders rather than seeking professional help. Even if some members of this community did decide to seek professional help, some of them would not know where to begin to look for services. I recently had the opportunity to help address these issues when I attended an African-American Conference here in Austin. At this conference, I was able to help members of the community begin to see the importance and benefit of seeking out professional help. I know that we reached a lot of members in the community that day, and now they are eager to obtain more information that could help a loved one or friend. It is important that we continue to seek out similar opportunities to help the African-American community, and all other communities, realize that living with a mental health issue shouldn’t have to be a dirty, dark secret.’
– Michael Burnett, CC in TX
‘When I think of the barriers that some of our minority members have created for themselves, I think specifically of our Caribbean population. In the Caribbean culture, be it Haitian or Jamaican, some of our members have a desire to manage life’s hardships on their own. If there is a mental health diagnosis, or an issue that needs to be addressed, there is a tendency to try and handle the issue within the family unit, rather than seeking out professional help. Many Jamaicans, like other cultures around the globe, do not believe in seeking mental health treatment because of the perceived ‘negative’ stigma that may be attached. They believe the problem will simply go away, or they accept the problem as a way of life. As I have also dealt with some of the Haitian population, I have come to realize that religion plays a major part in whether the individual/member does or does not seek treatment. This culture sometimes relies on God or their family to help guide the member through their episodes rather than seek professional help. As a Care Coordinator, I have to be culturally sensitive and aware of these members while also educating them on the importance of professional mental health treatment.’
– Natalie Brown, CC in FL
‘Many of the minority members we serve have mental health issues complicated by substance use/abuse. Initially, their drug and alcohol use acts as a ”band-aid” to more central problems they are facing. Over time, the occasional use of “band-aids” has the potential to become a full blown addiction. When attempting to engage members in treatment – such as helping them to seek out counseling services or schedule and keep appointments with their psychiatrists – there can be much resistance. A member may think, “Why do I need your medications when I have my own?” As Intensive Case Managers and Care Coordinators, we look at our members as more than a person with a chemical problem and help them to focus on treatment that targets the issues that lead individuals to use to begin with.’
– Jennifer Alamia, ICM in TX
Cenpatico is committed to providing culturally competent services and resources that help individuals and families in their recovery from mental illness and substance abuse. National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month continues through the end of July. For more information, click here to logon to the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ official National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month website.
This entry is filed under Blog.
