by WASHINGTON—Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Doris Matsui (CA-7), and Andrea Salinas (OR-6) joined Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) in introducing H. Res. 619, a bill designating July as Minority Mental Health Month.
Even though mental health awareness has increased in recent years, communities of color still face systemic obstacles to getting and receiving mental health care. These include policies that make it more difficult to access quality care, language barriers, insurance coverage disparities, cultural stigma, and underrepresentation in the mental health workforce. Communities of color are much less likely than their white counterparts to receive mental health treatment, and when they do, they are more likely to receive subpar care, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This implies that people in our community suffer as a result.
These disparities have only gotten worse as a result of recent Trump Administration efforts. The administration has eliminated 10% of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s workforce, including those who run the nationwide 9 8 8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, removed references to communities of color from government websites, and canceled over 900 federal health grants, including grants to address racial health disparities, in the last six months.
Better data, improved access, and more mental health experts who can offer in-language and culturally competent care are all necessary for our nation to get better care. In order to do this, Congress must recognize the existing health inequalities in our nation, honor diversity in the mental health care sector, and increase public understanding of the particular mental health problems that various populations experience.
Better is what our communities deserve. Congresswoman Crockett stated that although this resolution designates July as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, the work must continue.This resolution is a call to action for Congress to improve our healthcare system so that everyone, regardless of race, may receive the high-quality mental healthcare they deserve, in addition to removing the stigmas and hurdles that prevent communities of color from accessing mental health care.
Rep. Watson Coleman stated, “The evidence is clear: racial minorities are more likely to experience mental health conditions, but they are far less likely to receive treatment.” Higher prevalence of mental health issues are caused by systemic racism and generational injustice, which also limits access to the care that wealthier and whiter communities receive. The Trump administration is deliberately trying to exacerbate the issue in the interim. destroying the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority and cutting off financing for mental health programs. Together with Representative Crockett, I am honored to co-lead this resolution in an effort to highlight this structural injustice and seek its rectification. Regardless of ethnicity, income, religion, or ZIP code, everyone should have access to the care they require.As a co-leader of this resolution, I am honored to declare July to be Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. According to Rep. Salinas, minority groups may find it particularly challenging to access mental health care because they have additional obstacles like linguistic and cultural hurdles as well as higher trauma from racism and prejudice. Recognizing the barriers to care and the socioeconomic constraints minority groups confront is essential, as is our commitment to continue offering all Americans comprehensive, reasonably priced, and high-quality healthcare.
According to Congresswoman Matsui, minority populations are a rich mosaic of cultures and ethnicities, each of which faces particular obstacles and difficulties related to mental health. For this reason, I have worked hard to increase access to care, fund community-based and culturally competent programs, lessen stigma, and encourage early intervention and treatment. We are not discouraged by the reckless cuts of the Trump Administration. I’m honored to co-lead this resolution, which makes it very evident that we will always defend our minority communities and work to provide them the treatment they require.You may view the resolution text here.619 H. Res.
