FACTS AND FIGURES
Learn about statistics, trends, and other relevant insights for behavioral health practitioners working to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for people in underserved communities.
World Mental Health Day
October 10 officially marked World Mental Health Day, a day to highlight the vital role of mental health
education and to raise awareness and support of existing mental health issues. In the U.S., nearly 1 in 25
adults are living with a serious mental illness.
1 While most racial/ethnic minority groups have
similar or lower rates of mental illness than whites, they often bear a disproportionately high burden of
disability resulting from mental disorders.
2 For example, rates of mental illness are lower in
Blacks (18.6%) and Hispanics (16.3%) compared to whites (19.3%), but depression is more persistent in blacks
and Hispanics.
1 American Indians and Alaskan Natives also have higher rates of posttraumatic
stress disorder and alcohol dependence than any other ethnic/racial group.
2 Despite these existing
disparities, racial and ethnic minority groups are less likely to receive mental health services compared to
whites. This is due to existing barriers to care such as affordability, stigma, lack of culturally competent
providers, and an overall mental health system weighed heavily towards non-minority values and cultural
norms. Raising awareness to combat stigma, creating more accessible treatment services and having more
culturally competent providers may help tackle barriers to mental health care in minority communities.
3 Learn
more about
best practices for
treating diverse population.
