10.7.14 Mental Illness Awareness In Your School Community
Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct 5-11, 2014) is a time for education about mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other medical conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feelings moods, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. The week also includes National Depression Screening Day (Oct. 9.) and World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10).
These observances call attention to the illness of depression on a national level, educate the public about its symptoms and effective treatments, offer individuals the opportunity to be screened for depression, and connect those in need of treatment to the mental health care system.
Depression affects all walks of life and is a mental health issue that needs to be reported, viewed, and treated with the same urgency and respect as physical health issues. For members of ethnic and racial minority communities, including Asian, Native American, African Americans and Latinos, depression is a significant public health concern. Some of the leading factors contributing to this problem are the many hurdles preventing minorities from seeking treatment. These hurdles can include cultural competency issues, limited access to treatment, and stigma.
Addressing Cultural Concerns in Your Students
Statistics show there is a need for increased mental health care among minorities. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health:
- Suicide attempts for Hispanic girls, grades 9-12, were 70% higher than for White girls in the same age group, in 2011.
- The death rate from suicide for African American men is almost four times that for African American women, in 2009.
- While the overall death rate from suicide for American Indian/Alaska Natives is comparable to the White population, adolescent American Indian/Alaska Native females have death rates at almost four times the rate for White females in the same age groups.
While stigma plays a role in low treatment rates across all populations, it can be more pronounced in some cultural communities. Research indicates that stigma is felt more strongly by the Asian populations than by the White population. In response to this stigma, some Asian American family members may discourage treatment of their children out of concern of a mental health professional breaching confidentiality or worries over damaging a family’s reputation. Limited access to mental health treatment resources and language barriers also contribute to a high incidence of depression among some minority groups and can negatively impact teens.
A Place For Schools
Schools are in a unique position to not only change mental health perceptions among students, but among families and the community as a whole. As schools work with students from a range of different backgrounds, it is increasingly important to include minority groups in mental health awareness. Creating partnerships with community organizations that have access to a variety of populations can help. Educating parents and families through parent nights and multi-lingual outreach materials can also have a major impact.
De-stigmatizing mental health requires collaboration and widespread buy-in from the school community and policy leaders. We know that mental illness can affect people of any age, race, religion, or income. These illnesses are treatable and are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing. Maintaining a community and public health focus will help create a world where mental health is viewed and treated with the same gravity as physical health. See more resources here to help #StampoutStigma.
It Takes A Whole Community
If you would like to host a community conversation about adolescent mental health and suicide prevention, Screening for Mental Health has free materials to help you arrange an event. Please contact them at 781-239-0071 or [email protected] to get more information on the national initiative sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), Community Conversations About Mental Health.
Posted by Libby Nealis
on October 7, 2014