July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Join Team AgLearn to help bring awareness to the unique challenges that racial and ethnic minorities in the United States face when it comes to mental illness. In 2020, fewer than one in every two African American adults got 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 illness can affect women of all races and ethnicities. Show your support this month and beyond by learning more about mental health. You can also use and share the resources below to help spread awareness about mental health in your communities and families.

Background

First announced by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008, the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month External Link strives to encourage awareness of mental health and mental illness among minority populations.

Historically, there have been significant disparities in mental health treatment and care for minority individuals. Racial and ethnic minorities experience comparable mental health challenges to their white counterparts; however, minority youth populations are on average less likely to receive mental health services External Link. This challenge in receiving mental health services is often because of provider bias, discrimination, and lack of access to services.

Federal Resources

• U.S. Food & Drug Administration: National Minority Mental Health Awareness Information External Link
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Prioritizing Minority Mental Health” External Link
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: “National Minority Mental Health Month” External Link
• NIH: National Library of Medicine: “July Is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month” External Link
• CDC: Health Equity: “Minority Health and Health Equity Features” External Link

AgLearn Resources

• Learning Path: Support Your Mental Health at Work External Link
• Course: Supporting Allyship and Anti-Racism at Work External Link
• Course: How to Support Colleagues from Underrepresented Groups External Link
• Learning Channel: Mental Well-Being External Link
• eBook: The Cambridge Handbook of Stigma and Mental Health External Link
• eBook: Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit External Link
• Audiobook: Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism and the Persistence of Racial Inequality in America External Link