Addressing Stigma, Building Trust in Minority Mental Health

According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than half of all Americans are projected to belong to a minority group by 2044. Racial and ethnic minority groups often encounter higher levels of mental health stigma compared to their white counterparts. This stigma manifests through various cultural themes, including family-related stigma and lack of mental health knowledge. A systematic review spanning from 1990 to 2019 highlighted that these groups experience greater stigma, which significantly hinders their willingness to seek help.

According to the same APA report, a lack of cultural awareness among healthcare providers often leads to under-diagnosis and misdiagnosis of mental illnesses in minority populations. Language barriers, distrust in the healthcare system, and insufficient support for mental health services further complicate these challenges, hindering these communities' access to necessary care.

The Importance of Diversity in Mental Health Care

“Growing up, I didn't know that I wanted to be a counselor. I didn't even know what mental health was. What I did know was that I wanted to have an impact,” says Dr. Brandon Shurn, three-time Walden University graduate, including most recently a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision in 2023. Today he is a clinical assistant professor at Seattle University and mental health counselor in his own practice, EmPower Me Holistic Counseling.

Jobs for clinical and counseling psychologists are projected to grow 11% through 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

“It makes a lot of the people that come and work with me a little less guarded when we share the same skin tone and, most of the time, the same gender,” he says. “That lowers the barrier, and it allows me to interact with them a little bit differently.”

Dr. Shurn emphasizes the importance of normalizing mental health conversations within minority communities.

It's not that something is wrong with you. It's not that you're weak. Talking to someone like me is no different than taking your car to get the tires rotated.

Ana Valenzuela, MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling ’13, with her rich cultural background as a Spanish-speaking Afro-Caribbean woman, has made significant strides in addressing mental health stigma within minority communities. As an executive director at Clear Hope Counseling & Wellness, PC in Houston, Texas, she highlights the unique barriers faced by these groups, including language differences and financial constraints, which lead to underutilization of mental health services and delayed treatment​.

The fact that I come from this background and being fully bilingual in Spanish opens the door to facilitate more effective communication and establish rapport, as well as a clinical connection with my clients. I can better ensure that their cultural nuances are accurately understood and respected.

Advocating for Mental Health in Minority Communities

Valenzuela underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity and community outreach in promoting mental health wellness, especially from a young age.

“Engaging community leaders and partnering with local organizations has been pivotal,” she says. “Partnering with schools and providing school-based services where our clinicians go in and visit the kiddos removes an access barrier for parents.”

Building trust is fundamental to overcoming mental health stigma in minority communities. Both Dr. Shurn and Valenzuela advocate for strategies that foster cultural understanding and accessibility. For instance, increasing the diversity among mental health care providers can help reduce stigma and improve care for minority populations. Valenzuela points out that prioritizing diversity in the workforce and ongoing cultural humility training for staff are crucial steps in this direction​.

Additionally, creating open dialogues about mental health within communities and involving local leaders can significantly reduce stigma. Dr. Shurn emphasizes the impact of civic leaders in normalizing mental health discussions.

“My hope is to see a definite increase in the recognition of the vital role that minority therapists play in addressing health disparities,” says Valenzuela. “I want to see more minority leaders taking on those seats and influencing the decisions that are being made.”

For more information, email the Adtalem Global Communications Team: adtalemmedia@adtalem.com.