July is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month

Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) face unique challenges and barriers when it comes to mental health diagnoses, treatment, and stigma. July, BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, is used to bring attention to these issues. This post will discuss some of these barriers and other important facts surrounding this topic.

 

Cultural Stigma

In some cultures, mental illnesses are more stigmatized, discouraging individuals from seeking treatment. For example, a central belief in Japanese and Chinese cultures is that evil spirits cause mental illness, and the physical manifestation of symptoms tends to be the primary focus of treatment (Western Journal of Medicine). As a result, fewer individuals seek therapy for their minds.

Systemic Racism

The stress of systemic racism increases the risk of mental health struggles. It affects all aspects of care, as inherent racism can make it more difficult to obtain insurance, to find a culturally sensitive provider, and to trust that provider. Furthermore, much of the foundational research in mental health was conducted primarily on white males, and this early work continues to inform many of the treatments used today.

Lack of representation

Across media such as television shows, movies, news, etc., there is often a lack of BIPOC individuals who display signs of mental illness. While representation is now increasing, it can be a factor holding someone back from seeking treatment.

Some Important Considerations

Because of these barriers, and many other factors, BIPOC are potentially less likely to seek treatment despite their unique mental health challenges. For example, the Mental Health Commission of Canada found that Black Canadians with “poor-to-fair” mental health only sought mental health assistance 38% of the time, compared to 50% of white Canadians with the same mental health status.

Finally, these factors may also skew data collection, masking the issue. Statistics Canada did find lower incidences of anxiety, mood and substance use disorders in South Asian, Chinese and Filipino individuals in Canada (compared to white respondents). However, researchers must view this from a culturally sensitive lens that considers the increased stigma surrounding mental health in these cultures. This may indicate a decreased willingness to report symptoms or downplay the severity. 

At Allegro, we pride ourselves as culturally sensitive and culturally aware clinicians in support of those who want to break down these barriers. Our goal is to increase accessible counselling services for all cultural backgrounds in support of the unique challenges they may face with stigmatization or discrimination. 

 

Sources:

Kramer, E. J., Kwong, K., Lee, E., & Chung, H. (2002, September). Cultural factors influencing the mental health of Asian Americans. West Journal of Medicine, 176(4), 227–231. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071736/

Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2021, February). Shining a light on mental health in Black communities: COVID‑19 tip sheet (Report). Ottawa, ON: Mental Health Commission of Canada. https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/wp-content/uploads/drupal/2021-02/covid_19_tip_sheet%20_health_in_black_communities_eng.pdf

Statistics Canada. (2023). Mental disorders and access to mental health care. Insights on Canadian Society (Catalogue No. 75‑006‑X). Ottawa, ON: Author. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2023001/article/00011-eng.htm