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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it is important to discuss the connection between Mental Health and DEI.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults in the U.S. have a mental illness. While the statistics show that these rates are similar across racial/ethnic boundaries, factors such as race, gender, age, orientation, disability and socioeconomic status influence who will receive the mental health services they need. Racial and ethnic minorities, those with lower socioeconomic status, and those in rural communities are less likely to seek or receive mental health care. For example, in 2018, Asian Americans were 60 percent less likely and Hispanic populations were 50 percent less likely to access mental health treatment compared to white populations.

This often stems from the stigma surrounding mental illness, which is felt differently across racial, gender, and socioeconomic boundaries. Some communities, especially older generations, still see mental illness as something to be dealt with alone, or see those with mental illness as less than, which they are not. Consciously including mental health in DEI discussions can help destigmatize mental illness and enable people to seek the treatment they need. Access to mental healthcare is also a struggle for many minority groups, including fear of racism and lack of medical professionals with similar cultural backgrounds.

For ¾«Æ·SMÔÚÏßӰƬ students, Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) provides a range of mental health services, including free one-on-one therapy sessions and psychiatric services. They also provide workshops on topics such as combatting anxiety and skill-based therapy groups that can help develop self-acceptance and communication skills.

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