The Struggles that the BIPOC Community Faces When it Comes to Mental Health

It's difficult to get mental health help, but even more difficult for BIPOC.

Within BIPOC communities, deep rooted generational stigmas, cultural differences, and teachings have caused current communities to continue the suppression of their concerns for their mental health and fail to communicate properly of what they are going through due to lack of support or examples. Commonly agreed in BIPOC communities, mental illness and disorders can be described as “taboo”, “exaggerated”, and “evil” by mainly older generations who then teach this stigma to younger generations to continue the cycle. While BIPOC communities are at high risk of developing serious psychological distress because of this, they are still less likely to seek treatment and help due to this lack of support and knowledge of their conditions (www.rtor.org). Examples of cultural differences that make it hard for individuals to have family support mentally can be found in Hispanic culture where mental health is seen more as a medical issue focused on physical complaints (stomach aches, body pain, etc) to justify not seeking emotional and professional help, Black communities where is it more believed that mental illness is a personal choice and sign of weakness, and Asian communities (primarily Koreans) where described depression is only a “burning fireball in the back of their head” and thus seek help from medical physicians over mental health professionals (www.rtor.org). Just as mental health disorders do not limit themselves based on an individual's color, sexuality, identity, gender, etc, BIPOC communities are an example of specific demographics lacking the support and accessibility to mental health treatment and services.

Sources:

“Why Is Children's Mental Health Important?” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, 2009, www.apa.org/pi/families/children-mental-health.

Laova, Kristina. “The Massive Challenges Faced by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Who Live with Mental Health Disorders.” Resources To Recover, 21 July 2020, www.rtor.org/2020/07/21/the-massive-challenges-faced-by-bipoc-black-indigenous-and-people-of-color-who-live-with-mental-health-disorders/.