African Americans Have Limited Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care

Of the nearly 34 million people who identify themselves as African American, 22% live in poverty. These individuals are at particular risk for mental health illness due to an overrepresentation in homeless populations, people who are incarcerated, children in foster care and child welfare systems, and victims of serious violent crime (Office of the US Surgeon General, 2001).

African Americans Are At-Risk for Mental and Behavioral Health Problems

40% of youth in the criminal justice system and 45% of children in foster care are African American (Office of the US Surgeon General, 2001). Psychologists can work to eliminate or reduce behaviors prevalent in foster care children, such as aggression, fighting, negativism, and isolation (Kersting, 2005).

Over 25% of African American youth exposed to violence have proven to be at high risk for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Office of the US Surgeon General, 2001). Psychologists can teach community intervention methods, such as dialogue and coalition building, as well as interpersonal communication, negotiation, mediation, and community organizing. For traumatic stress, psychologists can encourage youth to contemplate the psychosocial impact of violence, loss and suffering as well as crisis response skills (O'Connor, 2001).

African Americans are nearly twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with schizophrenia (Snowden, 2001). Psychologists have become an integral part in programs that help treat schizophrenic patients, allowing them to live normal, independent lives by teaching them to handle the symptoms and effects of schizophrenia, such as voices or delusions (McGuire, 2000).

African Americans are twice as likely to have diabetes as whites, substantially more likely to die of stroke and around 10% more likely to have some form of heart disease (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2005). Psychologists play an essential role in helping people modify their behavior to prevent and recover from chronic illnesses like these. They have developed treatment and prevention programs for some of America’s most serious behaviorally-based health problems.

Poverty and Social Structures Are Barriers to Psychological Services

Studies show African Americans are just as much at risk for mental illness as their white counterparts, yet receive substantially less treatment. Analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data shows that in 2005, African Americans were 7.3 times a likely to live in high poverty neighborhoods with limited to no access to mental health services (Denton & Anderson, 2005).

Nearly 25% of African Americans are uninsured and are also more likely to use emergency and/or primary care specialists (Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, 2001). However, these professionals lack training in the diagnoses and treatment of mental and behavioral health problems. Psychologists are better trained to identify mental illness and provide psychotherapy to treat disorders (American Psychological Association, 2005).

A Greater Need for Culturally Competent Psychologists

According to the 2001 Surgeon General’s Report, African Americans account for just 2% of all psychologists in America today. Increased funding for African American psychologists, and other mental health providers, would help increase the number of African Americans in treatment; as minority clinicians are more likely to see minority patients with more effective outcomes.

Funding to train more African American psychologists would help to decrease stigma and encourage others to seek mental and behavioral health care when needed (President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003). Minority psychologists can use their knowledge about the messages that will best resonate with African Americans to help increase awareness, as well as provide culturally competent services that tailor to individual needs (Monitor on Psychology Staff, 2006).

Works Cited

American Psychological Association. (2005). Psychiatric disorders greatly underdiagnosed in hospital emergency departments, study finds [Press Release]. Washington, DC: Author.
Denton, N. A., & Anderson, B. J. (2005). Poverty and Race Research Action Council analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. The Opportunity Agenda. Retrieved from http://www.opportunityagenda.orgyfsfdzucwceusyzytzrerydecwzucysysxscd.
Kersting, K. (2005). A singular commitment. Monitor on Psychology, 36(6).
McGuire, P. A. (2000). New hope for people with schizophrenia. Monitor on Psychology, 31(2).
Monitor on Psychology Staff. (2006). A call for data collection to eliminate health disparities. Monitor on Psychology, 37(4).
Office of the Surgeon General. (2001). Mental Health: Cultural, Race, Ethnicity: Surgeon General’s Report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
O’Connor, E. M. (2001). From classroom to conflict resolution. Monitor on Psychology, 32(8).
President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. (2003). Report. Retrieved from www.mentalhealthcomission.gov.
Snowden, L. R. (2001). Barriers to effective mental health services for African Americans. Mental Health Services Research, 3(4).
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2005). Minority Health Disparities At a Glance [Fact Sheet]. Washington, DC: Author.

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