Why We Need to Protect Mental Health for POC

July is Minority Mental Health Month, which many are reclaiming as POC Mental Health Month. 

POC are facing a mental health care crisis in America. Mental disorders are among the most costly health conditions for adults between 18 and 64 years of age in the US, and POC often bear a disproportionately high burden of disability from mental disorders.

POC face additional hurdles that impact their ability to receive mental health care including lack of insurance or underinsurance, stigmas towards mental illness within their communities, lack of diversity among mental health care providers, lack of culturally competent providers, language barriers, and distrust in the health care system.

The data becomes even more skewed when you look specifically at mental health disparities among Black people. Although rates of mental illnesses in African Americans are similar to those of the general population, African Americans often receive poorer quality of care and lack access to culturally competent care. Only one-in-three Black people who need mental health care receive it and compared with the general population, African Americans are less likely to be offered either evidence-based medication therapy or psychotherapy. Black people are more frequently diagnosed with schizophrenia and less frequently diagnosed with mood disorders, compared to White people with the same symptoms. Black people with mental health conditions, in particular schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and other psychoses, are more likely to be incarcerated than people of other races.

Source: https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/cultural-competency/education/mental-health-facts

Seeking to address these gaps, Black Girl Magik is commemorating POC Mental Health Month with the Better Together Concert. This IG live benefit concert is raising funds for The Loveland Foundation, so Black women and girls can go to therapy for free. The digital festival will take place over the weekend of July 17-19th and feature musical performances and conversations with Black leaders.

July 17-19

12pm PST / 3pm EST / 8pm BST

Click here to reserve your ticket with any donation.

LINEUP:

Sampa the Great

Princess Nokia

Charlotte Dos Santos

Nakaya

Diana gordon

Anaïs

Liv.e

Tonina

Alice Smith

Arlo Parks

Dianna Lopez

About the hosts:

Black Girl Magik is a global support network and sisterhood creating safe spaces for Black women and girls to voice, listen, and encourage radical self care. Through virtual and in-person Black Girl Magik meetups, Black women engage in wellness activities, exchange resources, receive support, and make meaningful connections.

The Loveland Foundation is the official continuation of Rachel Cargyle’s effort to bring opportunity and healing to communities of color, and especially to Black women and girls. Through fellowships, residency programs, listening tours, and more, they hope to contribute to both the empowerment and the liberation of the communities that they serve. With the barriers affecting access to treatment by members of diverse ethnic and racial groups, Loveland Therapy Fund provides financial assistance to Black women and girls nationally seeking therapy.