My Why for Healing Minds and Restoring Hope for Better Lives

Mental illness does not discriminate, but access does.

July is Bebe Moore Campbell BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness of mental illness for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and the unique challenges of stigma, access and structural racism.

This month, many organizations are sharing stories from the BIPOC community with the goal of highlighting the importance of mental healthcare in diverse communities and to help people feel less alone. This mission inspired me to share my own story.

When I was seven years old, my family emigrated from North Africa and took up residence in Queens, NY. Growing up, my neighborhood and my school were full of diversity. Everyone was different, so no one was different.

Mental illness wasn’t talked about in my community growing up. But as I reflect, I can see now that mental illness was hidden due to the stigma in communities of color. Two friends that I grew up with later died by suicide. People attributed their deaths to violence and other external factors, but I often wonder if things were different – if mental health was discussed and support was within reach – if the outcomes could have been different.

Looking back, I realize how visible health disparities were in my neighborhood and even in my own family. When we came to the US, my mother, a trained physician overseas worked at a local bakery to support our family. My father gave up his career as an architect to become a waiter at a local diner, usually working overnight shifts on the weekends, when NYC was busiest, and his gratuity-based wage was maximized. They worked hard to give us a better life in the States. Still, we didn’t have insurance or a primary care physician, so like many families, we went to the Emergency Department (ED) for primary care needs. ?

My grandmother had a few common health conditions – ones that are easily managed today – such as diabetes and high blood pressure. However, because we didn’t have insurance, these issues were often exacerbated and went untreated. On one occasion, we took her to the ED because of her blood sugar fluctuations, and the doctors wanted to admit her. Not being able to afford it, we signed her out at risk, against the doctors’ advice. We didn’t have a choice. My grandmother passed away several years later from complications of these health conditions, and again as I reflect, I wonder if things could have been different if we had access to the care she needed.

Unfortunately, my family’s experience isn’t unique. According to a study out of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, African-Americans use the emergency department 54% of the time, and in urban areas that number is even higher at 59%. When it comes to mental health care, one in eight ED visits are related to mental illness. This creates overpopulated Emergency Rooms, and undertreated mental health conditions, particularly in vulnerable populations. This is unacceptable.

I went into healthcare to help people – families like mine – get the care and treatment they need to live happier and healthier lives. I believe access to healthcare is a human right. My purpose is to save and sustain human life through healthcare innovation. That’s why I’m proud to work for Janssen Neuroscience, where we are working every day to heal minds and restore hope for better lives of people living with mental illness and neurodegenerative disorders. I am surrounded by purpose-driven, talented professionals who are just as passionate about helping patients.

In mental health, the inequities are devastating. According to psychiatry.org , people of color are less likely receive mental healthcare. Among adults with mental illness, 48% of whites receive care, compared with 31% of Black and Hispanic people, and 22% of Asians. This is health inequity, quantified.

That’s why Janssen Neuroscience is taking action to close the gap. For example, we recently doubled the representation of Black healthcare providers in our speaker bureaus to ensure diverse representation and education across key opinion leaders. We are also sponsoring the National Alliance for Suicide Prevention 988 Messaging Coalition to assist in an aligned roll-out of a new mental health crisis response system to communities and systems of care. And we’re committed to increasing BIPOC participation in our clinical trials to improve data and ensure better representation of the communities we serve.

Thanks to a humble upbringing, I recognize how fortunate I am that my 2 sons, Yusuf and Malik, have access to care given our many blessings. However, most kids, that look like them may not have the same luxury, and research shows BIPOC communities often have a difficult time accessing care, regardless of socio-economic status. I am motivated by theses inequities and the responsibility to close the gap for others, as I’ve been able to do for my own family.

I am lucky enough to live my passion every day at Janssen. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me, and it’s my greatest purpose in life to ensure their sacrifices aren’t in vain. As most of you can probably relate, my parents don’t fully understand what I do professionally. They always describe my job the same way, “He’s working to cure cancer, hepatitis, (and now) mental illness.” While we may not yet have a cure for some of these devastating diseases, I am proud to work with a team and organization that will never give up on that ambitious goal or on the patients that need our heart, science and ingenuity.?