Black Mental Health Matters!
This Black History Month, we’re focusing on an important but often overlooked issue: the mental health disparities faced by Black children and families. Mental health is vital to a child’s well-being and development, yet Black children encounter significant barriers to receiving the care they deserve. Many of these challenges stem from systemic and historic racism, which has created enduring inequities in healthcare access, education, and community resources. Let’s explore some of the key challenges and how we aim to address them.
Limited Access to Care
Studies found that Black children are less likely to receive mental health care than their white counterparts. In other words, Black children are often underserved when it comes to mental health services. Barriers such as cost, lack of insurance, and geographic limitations are significant factors, but access to culturally competent care is another critical issue. The lack of access to therapists who understand their cultural and racial experiences can leave needs unmet.
Racial Bias in Mental Health Systems
Racial bias within the mental health system exacerbates disparities. Research shows that Black children are disproportionately misdiagnosed, often being labeled with behavioral disorders like conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder. At the same time, mood disorders such as depression and anxiety are underdiagnosed (Backman, 2024). This misdiagnosis leads to inappropriate treatments which can that fail to address the root causes of mental health challenges. Additionally, behavioral disorders can lead to increased stigmatization of a child. Racial bias can also affect the therapy process, with implicit assumptions influencing treatment plans and perceptions of Black children’s behavior.
These inequities are rooted in systemic racism that has shaped the healthcare system over generations. Structural barriers and racial stereotypes continue to perpetuate disparities, making it essential to address these biases through training, policy changes, and increased accountability.
Trauma and Chronic Stress
Black children are more likely to have exposure to adverse childhood experiences. (ACEs) such as community violence, family separation, and systemic racism. These experiences contribute to complex trauma, which can profoundly affect mental health and development. Chronic stress, a byproduct of systemic inequalities, further compounds these issues, leading to both psychological and physical health challenges.
Racial Mirrors
Having a therapist who shares the same racial or cultural background as the child can create a sense of safety, understanding, and trust—important components of successful therapy.
One of the most powerful ways to address these disparities is ensuring that Black children have access to therapists who share their racial and cultural backgrounds. Some people call this racial mirroring. While research surrounding the topic of racial matching in a clinical setting for better outcomes is mixed, providing youth with the option if that is what they wish is important. One study shows that most patients (83%) prefer therapists who share their racial or cultural background, reporting greater trust and better outcomes (Moore et al., 2023).
Stigma and Shame
In some Black communities, mental health struggles are stigmatized, creating barriers to seeking professional help. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one study showed that 63% of Black individuals reported that a mental health condition is a sign of personal weakness. This stigma, influenced by cultural or faith-based values, can act as a barrier for Black families trying to seek help. In some Black communities, mental health struggles may be seen as a weakness or something to be handled privately. This can at times make it harder for parents and children to seek help, fearing judgment or community backlash.
Support Black Joy and Resilience at Bud to Bloom Play Therapy
Join us in creating a brighter future! The Black Joy Fund is dedicated to breaking barriers by providing accessible therapy services for Black children and families while empowering the next generation of Black therapists. Your donation directly supports play therapy training for Black therapists and ensures that more Black youth receive the healing and support they deserve. Together, we can expand access to culturally competent care and build a community rooted in resilience
At Bud to Bloom Play Therapy, we are proud to offer culturally competent therapists and a diverse team dedicated to meeting the unique needs of Black children and families ages 0-18. Our team includes child therapists and play therapists who create a safe, understanding, and supportive environment for children to explore their emotions and experiences. By prioritizing cultural sensitivity and racial equity, we aim to bridge the gaps in mental health care for Black children.Bud to Bloom is a culturally competent and culturally sensitive practice, offering play based therapy for kiddos ages 0-18 as well as family therapy. Schedule TODAY!
Resources
Mental Health Services or funding for service:
The Loveland Foundation: A fund provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy nationally.
988 Lifeline - Black Mental Health page offers resources and links to text or call the lifeline when needed.
Community Connection Resources and Support Groups:
The Village Path - An organization dedicated to improving access, acceptance and awareness in the Black Mental Health community, specifically for young boys and men.
AAKOMA Project - An organization working to improve accessibility and consciousness of mental health for Black families and youth.
The Legacy Center - An organization dedicated to creating spaces for youth to grow and develop as well as support for communities and educators to provide an inclusive and safe space for kids.
BEAM: Black Mental Health Collective - A nationwide organization full of (virtual) support groups and resources for any Black person struggling with their mental health.
NAMI Black Minds Matter Virtual Support Group - a support group that gives a space for Black individuals who are struggling with their mental health to learn coping skills, find community and gain skills.
Education, Toolkits, etc.:
Couched in Color - A BIPOC Mental Health Podcast
Black Girls Smile Mental Wellness Toolkit
The Steve Fund - an organization dedicated to supporting the emotional wellbeing and mental health
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National Alliance on Mental Illness (n.d.) Black/African american. NAMI. https://www.nami.org/your-journey/identity-and-cultural-dimensions/black-african-american/
National Alliance on Mental Illness (n.d.) Mental health in black communities: Challenges, resources, community voices. https://namica.org/mental-health-challenges-in-african-american-communities/#:~:text=One%20study%20showed%20that%2063,against%20due%20to%20their%20condition
Hoffmann, J. A., Alegría, M., Alvarez, K., Anosike, A., Shah, P. P., Simon, K. M., & Lee, L. K. (2022). Disparities in Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions. Pediatrics, 150(4), e2022058227. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-058227
Backman, I (2024). How medical racism exacerbates the Black Youth Mental Health Crisis. Yale School of Medicine.https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/how-medical-racism-exacerbates-the-black-youth-mental-healthcrisis/#:~:text=Black%20children%2C%20for%20example%2C%20are%20more%20likely,to%20be%20diagnosed%20with%20attention%2Ddeficit/hyperactivity%20disorder%20(ADHD)
Harvard School of Public Health (2023, December). Newsletter https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/pediatric-mental-health-care-treatment-needs-more-
Moore, C., Coates, E., Watson, A., de Heer, R., McLeod, A., & Prudhomme, A. (2023). It's important to work with people that look like me: black patients' preferences for patient-provider race concordance. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 10(5), 2552–2564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01435-y
