Weekly Wrap-Up
September 25, 2020
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Special Statement

Mental Health America of California is infuriated with the continued egregious acts and violence being committed against communities of color.  Murder must stop! Assault must stop! Violence against women by stealing their reproductive organs must stop!  Racism is part of the foundation that has allowed these acts to exist and continue. Racism results in trauma, depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges.  Racism is a public health crisis. Mental Health America of California will continue to educate, advocate and collaborate to bring CHANGE to the variables that threaten the mental health of our communities, state and nation.



Addressing Systemic Racism in Action: Understanding the Mental Health Professionals' Tools for Change
 
In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many others shine a glaring light on the continued presence of systemic racism in the police system and many other U.S. institutions. Despite calls for change within the Black community and among allies, little change has occurred over decades, as our laws and policies continue to promote systematic white privilege.
 



Latinx/Hispanic Communities And Mental Health

 



Guía de Apoyo Para la Salud Mental
 
La Guía de apoyo para la salud mental proporciona información valiosa sobre cómo puedes encontrar servicios de salud mental para ti y tus seres queridos.
 



Behavioral Health Directory for Asian America, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Californians
 
Recent evidence suggests that certain AANHPI subgroups face unique behavioral health challenges. For instance, suicide rates among elderly AANHPI women (65 and above) remain significantly higher than women from other races of the same age category.1 Southeast Asian refugees are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than other AANHPI groups.2 Compared to Asian Americans and the general population, NHPI adults are at greater risks for overall poor health and serious psychological distress.3 There is also evidence that Pacific Islander boys (11-18 years) have the highest rates of smoking, methamphetamine use, and binge alcohol use across all racial groups.
 



The Extra Stigma of Mental Illness for African-Americans
 
Much of the way African-Americans "deal with mental health, or choose not to, is based on how we are socialized," says Shaun J. Fletcher, a professor at San Jose State University whose research covers health disparities among African-American men. He gave a 2018 TEDx Talk on how African-Americans communicate about their mental health issues.
 



For Black Mental Health, We Must Dismantle Racism
 
As a suicide prevention organization, we at Families for Depression Awareness are troubled to see the rates of suicide rising disproportionately among Black teens and children. We believe that this trend can be reversed. However, the U.S. mental health care system is inadequate for the demand for services, and some communities are less well-served than others. Not all clinical treatments and diagnostic criteria have been studied for validity and reliability among members of the Black community. Further, traditional mental health treatment may not feel like a safe place for Black families to turn when they've faced discrimination, mistreatment, or neglect from medical providers (as has unfortunately been highlighted during the coronavirus pandemic).
 



Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Hearing Loss - Resources Available!

Our network of crisis centers offers many services for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, including veterans.




Virtual Events




Wednesday, September 30, 2020 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time
 
CoE Office Hours: Addressing Trauma, Racism and Bias in Behavioral Health Service Delivery
 
Join us on Wednesday, September 30th from 2:00-3:00pm ET to continue the conversation from the recent webinar, Addressing Trauma, Racism and Bias in Behavioral Health Service Delivery. We will have an open discussion to share strategies and innovative ideas around addressing behavioral health access disparities and provider biases within your respective programs.
 

 

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