African Americans with Mental Illness Essay Example

health issues. Additionally, another study found higher occurrences of somatic symptoms, phobias, and sleep paralysis among Black Americans compared to other populations (Alcena, 2014).

Black Americans, including those in the military, are more likely to experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) upon returning home. This increases their susceptibility to mental illnesses, particularly amongst young adults with fair or poor health, putting them at a higher risk of depression. Additionally, African Americans have a greater chance of being admitted to state hospitals rather than receiving outpatient treatment.

Nationally speaking, 364 out of every 100,000 African Americans were hospitalized for psychiatric conditions. Specifically within state psychiatric hospitals, 56% of African American patients were primarily diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to only 18% among all admitted patients who received the same diagnosis (Bhui, 2012).

Many individuals hold the belief that mental illness may be caused by religious or spiritual factors, which can deter them from seeking healthcare services. A study on attitudes towards suicide discovered that Black American students were less likely to associate suicide with interpersonal problems when compared to European American students. Additionally, they frequently attributed life's trajectory to God. The African American ancestors were forcibly brought to the United States under oppressive and terrifying circumstances during slavery. Racism and oppression impeded their efforts in establishing a social structure, leading to a lack of knowledge regarding their own history and the culturally abundant heritage of Africans. Consequently, African Americans possess a wide range of values.

They may be based on adaptations of cultural norms of Americans, the surviving cultural practices from Africa and the individual experiences with the American mainstream culture. The African Americans in the lower class differ in their opinions

from the upper and middle class African Americans, so many seek spiritual health from the clergy instead of seeking psychiatric assistance. The poor people focus on the present day health problems. Health care workers need to be aware of the desire to focus on the issues of everyday in their approach to treatment (Bhui, 2012). Racial pride, support and solidarity for the movements of civil rights are form a vital part of the socialization experience.

There is a growing trend among African Americans to embrace their African heritage and desire for their children to learn an African language and have awareness of the African community. However, Black Americans face various challenges including combating stereotypes and racism, managing anger and distress in a healthy manner, and developing a strong identity that provides purpose to life and resilience against stress. Unfortunately, healthcare providers often overlook mental health disparities based on race and ethnicity due to a lack of understanding. It is crucial for therapists to acknowledge both the impact of current racism as well as the enduring effects of slavery. Bias in therapy arises from unfounded assumptions and community intolerance towards minority individuals with mental illness (Bhui, 2012).

Many African Americans believe that mental health care services are biased against them. According to a survey conducted by Common Wealth Minority Health, 12% of African Americans feel unfairly judged by healthcare providers due to their race or ethnic background, compared to only 1% of Caucasians. Additionally, 43% of African Americans reported experiencing poor treatment from healthcare providers based on their ethnicity or race. As a result, suspicions have arisen regarding bias in the delivery of healthcare and unjust judgments made

by administrators and practitioners in mental health programs based on patients' ethnicity or skin color.

Bhui (2012) states that the perceptions of bias, both direct and indirect, have a significant impact on the health seeking behaviors and attitudes of African Americans with mental illness. The African American community places great importance on marriage, home ownership, education, and family life. Additionally, spirituality plays a vital role in their lives and in managing mental illness. Family therapy is deemed an appropriate approach for addressing mental illness within this community. Moreover, African Americans tend to view health concerns through a spiritual perspective rather than a medical one by relying on divine healing and attributing health outcomes to their faith in God's sovereignty. These beliefs are deeply ingrained and often passed down through generations. Psychologists have responded to the spiritual etiologies associated with mental illness among African Americans by developing models that emphasize spiritual development (Bhui, 2012).

African Americans experience a disproportionate burden of health issues, with higher mortality rates compared to whites until the age of 85. They also have increased prevalence of certain health conditions such as diabetes (three times higher than that in whites) and heart disease (over forty percent greater than in whites).

The incidence of prostate cancer in African Americans is more than double that of whites, while the occurrence of HIV/AIDS among African Americans is over seven times higher compared to whites. Furthermore, deaths caused by HIV/AIDS are increasing in the black American population and it is one of the top 5 leading causes of death for African Americans (Braithwaite, Taylor, ; Treadwell, 2009). Additionally, there is a higher prevalence of breast cancer among African Americans

than in whites.

The provision of health care is directly impacted by all three branches of the government. The health care disparity between African American infants and their white counterparts results in twice as many deaths among the former, leading to poorer health outcomes. These disparities are primarily caused by the lack of utilization of health care services, which can be attributed to barriers like low income, transportation issues, and inadequate child care. Additionally, difficulties incorporating prescribed health plans into daily routines and insufficient understanding of treatment plans also contribute to this problem (Breland-Noble, Al-Mateen, ; Singh, 2015).

The legislative arm of government determines the services and care programs that the government will provide for different members of society. However, the mental health service and policy measures often overlook the healthcare needs of Black Americans. The African American population has reported patterns of incorrect diagnoses, excessive reliance on medication, and disparities in service utilization. These service patterns create a sense of mistrust and lead to alternative paths of care and disengagement from services. As a result, healthcare services are underutilized. Economic factors, including employment type and income level, also influence the healthcare services provided to Black Americans (Breland-Noble, Al-Mateen, ; Singh, 2015).

African Americans encounter challenges in obtaining mental health care due to their reluctance to pursue psychotherapy for various conditions such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. The majority of African Americans refrain from seeking assistance from professionals regarding their mental health issues. Additionally, they exhibit hesitancy in utilizing psychotherapeutic treatments even after being diagnosed with these disorders.

The reason for selecting this subject is the noticeable impact that refraining from drugs has on the mental

well-being of African Americans. The recovery and return to their usual routines require a significant amount of time for them. Numerous efforts have been made to address this matter, including public education campaigns utilizing mass media tools to increase awareness regarding mental illnesses and available treatments.

The objective of reducing treatment costs is a key initiative to ensure healthcare accessibility for all, as high expenses often hinder access to care (Videbeck, 2011). When designing programs, it is essential to consider cultural and traditional factors such as medical practices, health-seeking behaviors, religious beliefs, values, and traditions. Culturally competent communication can be achieved by recognizing the strength in diversity, conducting self-assessments of culture, understanding differences' dynamics, adapting to diversity, and incorporating cultural knowledge into institutions (Videbeck, 2011). In conclusion, healthcare disparities related to treatment costs make African Americans with mental illness a vulnerable group.

The government should ensure equal access to healthcare for all individuals, regardless of their ethnicity. This can be achieved by subsidizing treatment costs and providing accessible mental health care services. Moreover, the government should educate the public about the importance of maintaining good mental health as an essential part of overall well-being.

References

• Alcena, V. (2014). Health Status of African Americans
• Bhui, K. (January 01, 2012). Racism and mental health: Prejudice and suffering. Braithwaite, R. L., Taylor, S. E., & Treadwell, H.

M. (2009). Health Issues in the Black Community. New York, NY: John Wiley & Son

N. (2016). Handbook of mental health in African American youth. Gaw, A. C. (1993). Culture, ethnicity, and mental illness. Washington, DC u.a: American Psychiatric Press. Videbeck, S.

Psychiatric-mental health nursing

by L. (2011) is a book published in Philadelphia by Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.