Let’s not celebrate Black History Month without talking mental health

By Christina Abby, DSW, LMSW, Director of Training & Curriculum, evolvedMD   Throughout Black History Month, the role Black Americans have played and continue to play throughout history is recognized and honored. It’s a chance to celebrate the rich cultural traditions and accomplishments of the Black community while also raising awareness about ongoing disparities deeply rooted in American history.    It would be a disservice to highlight Black History Month without also shedding light on the mental health crisis that continues to disproportionately impact minority communities, especially Black Americans. The statistics are sobering. Black people in the United States:       Are 20% more likely to have serious psychological distress than white people.       Receive mental health treatment at 50% the rate of white Americans       Ages 5-12 were approximately twice as likely to die by suicide than their white counterparts, according to a 15-year study on racial disparity in suicide rates    There are several factors fueling these numbers and several paths to turning the data around.    Here are a few ideas:    Integrate behavioral health in primary care  Research shows that Black Americans are more likely to seek help in emergency rooms or primary care rather than from mental health specialists.At evolvedMD, we are working to...