Working toward a better quality of care for everyone is an admirable goal. However, providing this means providing better mental health care in minority communities. This, in turn, requires an open and honest conversation about mental health within these communities.
So, how does this conversation take place? This article will break down some information that is important for going into these conversations. It will also include specific tips that will help make these conversations easier.
Recognize Differences in Mental Health
The first step in opening up about mental health in minority communities is recognizing the differences that exist in these communities. Without recognizing these issues, it is more difficult to frame a discussion or enter the picture with a realistic idea of what is going on.
Differences in Access to Healthcare
One of the first differences to recognize is the difference in access to healthcare. These come from nearly all factors of the healthcare landscape.
It starts with insurance coverage. Minority groups are more likely to have lower levels of insurance coverage, particularly Hispanic groups. Many groups are likely to be without insurance entirely. These gaps in insurance prevent many people from seeking healthcare treatment, including mental health treatment, in the first place, leading to more problems when treatment is necessary.
It is also often harder for many minority groups to receive care. Care centers that provide mental health services are not found everywhere and are more likely to be located in areas farther away from minority groups. So, distance presents another barrier.
Beyond this, when minority groups are actually able to receive care, they often receive a lower quality of care. This partially comes from a lack of cultural awareness in providers, which leads to misdiagnosis and other problems. For example, atopic dermatitis is often misdiagnosed in Black people, leading to ineffective treatment. This further opens the divide between care provided for minority groups and care provided elsewhere.
Differences in Trauma
In addition to receiving different levels of healthcare, minority groups deal with different levels of mental trauma. This comes from racial trauma. This is an accumulation of all acts of racism that an individual sees or experiences in their life. Each of these acts negatively weighs on the person and, in doing so, harms their mental health.
This goes hand in hand with other important issues. Trauma, discrimination, and poverty all contribute to overall mental health. These factors will be different in many minority communities.
Understanding these differences is a key part of treatment. It allows both parties to understand each other, which allows the conversation to get deeper than it would otherwise. Without this understanding, the conversation would flounder at the surface level.
Related: The Alarming Trend of Blunt Use Among Vulnerable Youth
Being Open With Others
With these differences in mind, the next step in creating open, culturally sensitive communication is working to be open with others.
Being open with others starts with dispelling the fear that ideas and feelings will be immediately rejected. This is particularly pertinent in minority communities. Nearly half of Americans don’t believe systemic racism exists, yet the issues that systemic racism causes are a huge factor weighing on mental health in minority communities. It isn’t difficult to see that a conversation between someone discussing their problems with systemic racism and someone who doesn’t believe systemic racism exists would not go well.
This is where trust enters the system. It is important to demonstrate that you won’t turn on someone at the first opportunity. Instead, you need to show that you will listen to them no matter what they say. Once this is established, open communication can actually take place.
Tips for Convincing Others to Be Open With You
- Don’t share your thoughts on what someone is saying too quickly. Doing so will push them away and make them feel like they can’t fully express themselves.
- Don’t reframe the conversation to be about yourself. No one wants to spend an entire conversation listening to someone else.
- Focus on listening and look for ways to show you were listening throughout the conversation. Doing so will encourage the other person to be more open with you in the future.
Related: Psychological Distress Increased With Night, Rotating Shift Work
Tips for Being Open With Others
- Say what you really feel and match your behavior with it. If you are upset with someone, you shouldn’t act like everything is alright. Doing so sends them a mixed message. They may believe things are alright, yet be confused when you don’t act like you normally would. Instead, express what you feel and try to talk with them about it so that you can move forward together.
- Share feelings rather than things you believe are facts. Your feelings can never be incorrect, but your interpretations of what others are doing can be. Asking someone, “Why were you mean to me just now?” will produce a negative reaction if they didn’t intend to be mean and only did something mean on accident. Meanwhile, stating, “I feel like you were being mean to me just now. Can you explain that?” gives them a chance to fix the situation without putting them on the defensive.
- Communicate in the first person when possible. Going along with saying what you are feeling, try to make your communications with “I” statements. Say things like “I love this restaurant; I’m glad we went here.” instead of “Do you like it here? Do you think going was a good idea?”
- Avoid questions and go with statements instead. In many cases, people want to confirm things with others before they express an opinion of their own. For example, saying “I like you.” can be difficult, and you may want to ask, “Do you like me?” first. However, going with the statement rather than the question gives you ownership over what you feel and believe.
Want to help the providers in your practice improve their care for minority communities? Learn how our solutions can help increase cultural competency and improve patient outcomes.
Opening Up About Mental Health in Minority Communities
Opening up about mental health in minority communities is possible and leads to better health outcomes. Doing so starts with recognizing the differences that exist in these communities and being aware of how these differences will impact conversations. Then, it requires using tips and tricks to keep the conversations flowing.
