Health Issues & Access
Describe some of the common physical and mental health issue that individuals of African descent face in America. What factors might contribute to the underutilization of mental health services among African Americans? What can be done at local, state and federal levels to advocate for change?
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Describe some of the common physical and mental health issues that individuals of African descent face in America,
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What factors might contribute to the underutilization of mental health services among African Americans,
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What can be done at the local level to advocate for change,
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What can be done at state and federal levels to advocate for change.
Response
Individuals of African descent in the United States face a range of both physical and mental health challenges. Common physical health issues include hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2023), African Americans are nearly twice as likely as White Americans to die from heart disease and experience higher rates of stroke. Additionally, certain cancers, such as prostate and colorectal cancer, disproportionately affect African American populations. Mental health concerns are also significant, including higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often compounded by experiences of systemic racism, discrimination, and socioeconomic stressors (American Psychiatric Association, 2021).
Despite these challenges, African Americans underutilize mental health services compared to other populations. Several factors contribute to this disparity, including stigma around mental illness, historical mistrust of the healthcare system due to unethical practices like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, financial barriers, lack of culturally competent care providers, and limited access to insurance or transportation (Ward et al., 2019). These barriers often result in delayed treatment, misdiagnosis, or reliance on informal support networks rather than professional care.
Advocating for change requires coordinated efforts at multiple levels. Locally, community-based programs can increase awareness, provide culturally sensitive education, and offer accessible mental health screenings in schools, churches, and community centers. State-level initiatives might include expanding Medicaid coverage, incentivizing mental health providers to practice in underserved areas, and funding training programs to enhance cultural competence in healthcare. Federally, legislation can focus on reducing systemic inequities, increasing research funding on health disparities, and supporting nationwide public awareness campaigns to destigmatize mental health care among African Americans (Williams & Cooper, 2019).
By addressing both systemic barriers and community-level needs, these interventions can improve access to care, enhance health outcomes, and reduce disparities in mental and physical health for African Americans. Ensuring culturally competent, accessible, and affordable care is key to achieving equity in health services across the nation.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2021). Mental health disparities: African Americans. https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/cultural-competency/mental-health-disparities
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Health disparities in African Americans. https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/race-ethnicity/index.html
Ward, E., Wiltshire, J. C., Detry, M. A., & Brown, R. L. (2019). African American men and women’s attitude toward mental health help-seeking. Psychology of Men & Masculinities, 20(1), 85–95. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000145
Williams, D. R., & Cooper, L. A. (2019). Reducing racial inequities in health: Using what we already know to take action. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(4), 606. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16040606