TCOVID-19 pandemic Mental health deteriorates across the board In the United States, but people of color — who have suffered disproportionately from the worst effects of COVID-19 and historically lack adequate access to mental health care — have been particularly hard hit. one 2022 study It found that black, Latino, and Asian adults in the United States “showed significantly worse mental health during the pandemic than before the pandemic,” while white adults experienced a less severe decline.
However, white Americans are still more likely to receive specialized mental health care. Several obstacles prevent people of color from receiving this type of help, including financial and insurance restrictions, the ongoing stigma of seeking help for these problems in many communities of color, and barriers to finding a therapist with a similar cultural background.
Here are some of the organizations that are working to bridge this gap.
National Queer & Therapists Across Color Grid
The National Queer & Therapists Across Color Grid is a national organization that provides a directory of hundreds of dark-skinned and transgender therapists. The organization, founded by therapist Erica Woodland in 2016, hopes to make it easier for gay and transgender people to find mental health practitioners. The organization also runs queer, transgender, black, indigenous, and people of color mental health fund, launched in 2017, raised nearly $50,000 that was distributed to “primarily black, trans, and nonbinary people” to meet their treatment needs, Woodland says. Applicants for the fund can request up to $100 per session for up to six sessions with a therapist.
Asian Mental Health Project
Carrie Zhang created profile Asian Mental Health Project in 2017 after noticing a shortage of resources for mental health in Asia. The organization educates and empowers Asian communities to access mental health services by hosting mostly virtual wellness events, weekly check-ins that act as support groups, and workshops with speakers. The group has also begun raising funds for a mental health fund that the organization hopes to provide 25 people in financial difficulty with a $500 stipend to dedicate to mental health or wellness services.
Read more: How 988 will transform America’s approach to mental health
says Jennifer Tarm, director of partnerships for the organization. Acupuncture Other comprehensive treatment modalities may also be eligible.
HealHaus Therapy Box
The HealHaus Therapy BoxBIPOC, started by the HealHaus Wellness Center in Brooklyn, was established in 2021 to provide individualized speech therapy to Blacks, Indigenous People, and People of Color (BIPOC); So far, 50 people have benefited from the fund. The fund’s ultimate goal is to provide eight weeks of free treatment to 100 people. “Treatment can be expensive and considered a luxury for most people,” says Darian Hall, co-founder of HealHaus. “Many insurance companies do not cover treatment services, so this was a way for us to offer treatment to those who might not have done so before.”
Loveland Foundation Therapy Fund
The Loveland Foundation Therapy Fund It was created in 2018 with a focus on girls, women, and non-binary people seeking therapy. The fund covers up to 12 sessions for its recipients, and since its inception has already provided 72,000 hours of treatment. The Loveland Foundation also runs free support groups that provide tools to overcome challenges associated with mental illness in communities of color. “We are working to provide equitable access to treatment and de-stigmatize the topic of mental health within our community,” says Hannah Tal, director of programs at the Loveland Foundation.
Therapy for black girls
Psychologist Joy Harden Bradford started Therapy for Black Girls as a mental health blog in 2014, and by 2017, it had evolved to include a popular podcast and Processor Manual Mostly black female healers. Today, there are more than 5,000 processors on the list. “There is still a lot of stigma around mental health in the black community,” Harden Bradford says. “When people think about therapy, one of the things that often makes them more comfortable is getting an appointment with a therapist who is like them.”
treatment for latex
treatment for latexLaunched in 2018, it provides a guide for nearly 500 therapists who specialize in issues relevant to the Latinx community. Founder Brandi Carlos came up with this idea after she had trouble finding a therapist to help her deal with a friend’s suicide. While she did find other guides for people of color, she didn’t come across anything specific to the Latinx community – so she created one herself. “If I had a hard time finding a therapist, I also knew that others in my community were as well,” Carlos says.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or is considering suicide, call or text 988. In an emergency, call 911 or seek care from a local hospital or mental health provider.
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