Share with Others
By: Mr. Tyler Sullivan, MA, LMHC-A
Mental health issues are quite common, with the CDC identifying that more than 1 in 5 US adults living with mental health issues. Mental Illness is treatable and sometimes preventable, provided that the individual has access to the resources necessary. People in racial or ethnic minorities may experience difficulties with access to these resources due to a variety of issues such as cost or inadequate health insurance coverage, or stigma towards mental health treatment, which can lead to individuals in a racial or ethnic minority to not seek mental health services.
We all have a part to play in promoting mental health of those around us. One such way we can help is by simply learning about mental health and sharing empathy with others. One important part of introspection in learning about mental health is learning out our own implicit bias, which are unintentional attitudes, behaviors, and actions that are in favor of or against one person or group. Another important subject to learn about can be microaggressions, which are verbal, nonverbal, and environmental, slights, snubs, or insults.