Patricia Maryland, Dr.PH, President, Healthcare Operations and Chief Operating Officer, Ascension Health, has published a thought-provoking editorial for The Washington Informer on the importance of behavioral health care for African-Americans.
In her column, Pat cites the National Institute of Mental Health statistic that one of every five adults in the United States, or approximately 43 million people, will experience mental illness this year, and African-Americans are 20 percent more likely than whites to report having serious psychological distress.
An imbalance of health insurance coverage of African-Americans, especially compared with non-Hispanic whites, as well as a lack of African-American mental health professionals, are two of the reasons Pat gives for the challenges faced by African-Americans with mental health issues.
She offers a number of solutions, such as investing in community health centers that serve high-need minority neighborhoods and providing improved care for military veterans, but most importantly, engaging the support and participation of the African-American community.
“Breaking down these barriers will compel us not only to recognize the necessity of mental health care, but also to marshal our support for family, friends and neighbors who are seeking the help and treatment they need,” she writes. “Together, we can build a healthier, stronger community, where getting support for mental health problems is not a sign of weakness, but one of strength.”
