|
United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. It is our responsibility to amplify voices of color and bring awareness to the challenges faced by historically marginalized communities.
Despite our nation’s growing diversity and the disproportionately higher rate at which people of color (POC) experience adverse mental health outcomes and barriers to care, the mental health workforce is largely white. According to a report from the American Psychological Association, 86% of U.S. psychologists in 2015 were white, and in 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that close to 70% of U.S. social workers and 88% of mental health counselors were white.
If you’re a person of color (POC), these statistics probably aren’t surprising. Trying to find a therapist who shares your racial or ethnic background can feel like a game of Where’s Waldo — and in mental health, a field where white supremacy often runs unaddressed, the consequences of this lack of diversity, including the inability to adequately support the unique cultural needs and experiences of POC, are often ignored. - (Reported from the National Alliance on Mental Illness)
To learn about best practices for treating diverse populations and to get answers to your questions from leading psychiatrists, please visit APA's Cultural Competency Webpage. If you or someone you know needs suicide or mental health-related crisis support, please call or text 1-800-273-8255 or visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's chat to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
United Way is committed to equity, inclusion, and anti-racist principles and continues to work towards preventing further isolation and mental health barriers.
| 
