Strategies for Equitable Mental Health Care

Mental health is a topic that we care about deeply at Tribunus Health, which is why this July, we’re celebrating National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.?

To some, healthcare may seem accessible and available to all. However, accessible healthcare, especially mental health care, is a privilege many never experience. This is why we all must take actionable steps towards promoting and providing equitable access to mental health programming.

There are a few simple suggestions for those interested in promoting health equity. Tips such as learning about mental health and ways to cope with stress or loss, and sharing that information with others in your community. Diving a little deeper, we can learn to talk about mental health without using stigmatizing language or learn to recognize our implicit biases surrounding mental health, and actively work to limit its effects on treatment.?

While the tips above are great for individuals, we also must consider ways that the healthcare industry as a whole can take proactive steps to better support minority mental health. Below are strategies that we can all implement to make progress towards mental health equity.?

1. Enhance Access to Care:

• Expand telehealth services to reach minority communities who may have difficulty accessing traditional in-person care due to transportation, location, or stigma. With a mission to help connect people struggling with mental health and licensed psychiatric providers, ReKlame Health offers a powerful example of how expanding telehealth services positively impacts minority communities.
• Work on policies to reduce financial barriers, such as lowering co-pays, offering sliding scale fees, and providing more insurance options that cover mental health services.

2. Develop Tailored Programs and Services:

• Create and implement mental health programs and services that are culturally relevant and tailored to the specific needs of different minority groups.
• Provide translation and interpretation services to overcome language barriers, ensuring that patients can communicate effectively with their providers.

3. Improve Data Collection and Research:

• Collect and analyze data on mental health outcomes by race, ethnicity, and other demographics to identify disparities and target interventions.
• Fund research focused on minority mental health issues to better understand the challenges and develop evidence-based solutions.

4. Policy Advocacy:

• Advocate for policies that address social determinants of health, such as housing, education, and employment, which significantly impact mental health.
• Support laws and regulations that ensure mental health services are covered equally to physical health services by insurance providers.

5. Address Social Determinants of Health:

• Adopt a holistic approach to healthcare that considers the social, economic, and environmental factors affecting mental health.
• Work with other sectors such as education, housing, and employment services to create a comprehensive support system for mental health.

Our hope is that by implementing these strategies into our personal and work lives, we can begin to see the gaps between minorities and accessible health care grow smaller.?