Trigger Warning! This article contains serious mentions of discrimination and its mental health impacts. If these are things that are triggering to you, please close this page and read a different article. For more information about identifying triggers, please consult our triggers and stressors article.
Discrimination can impact every aspect of life, including mental health and mental health care. In this article we’ll be using resources from Inclusive Therapists to talk about how discrimination impacts mental health. We’ll answer these questions:
- How does discrimination impact mental health?
- How does representation impact mental health?
- How does systemic discrimination impact the mental health field?
How does discrimination impact mental health?
Discrimination can impact mental health individually, as well as have a ripple effect. Discrimination such as racism is correlated with higher levels of anxiety, more severe episodes of mental illness, and higher levels of depression. In addition, discrimination can prevent individuals from being able to get care or to be able to trust healthcare professionals.
Discrimination can also have further impacts, as discrimination such as colonization can lead to generational trauma, which can be passed down throughout family and community structures, as well as the impacts of colonialism itself. In addition to generational trauma the continual trauma of discrimination and the lack of protection from it can lead to more negative mental health outcomes.
How does representation impact mental health?
Having the representation of more diverse mental health professionals has numerous impacts in quality of care and preventing further trauma by professionals who have not done the work to prevent further discrimination. Representation can result in treatment plans that include cultural practices, connect to cultures and communities, and having a greater understanding of the patient’s experiences and needs. Representation also prevents instances of discriminatory comments, assumptions, or actions, and builds more trust.
How does systemic discrimination impact mental health?
Systemic discrimination can lead to many issues, such as ignorant and unhelpful mental health professionals, lack of access to necessary care, and the assumption that Western practices are better than others, a belief that is founded in colonization. Systemic discrimination leads to care that is inadequate and to care that results in a lack of trust. This lack of trust originates from the risk of being harmed in spaces that are dominated by white cishet people. This is why representation in mental health professionals is needed, but this is also why we must dismantle systems of discrimination such as racism, sexism, classism, colonialism, and all the -isms for better care, the proper treatment of all people, and a mental health system that truly cares about the people it serves.
Final thoughts:
Discrimination has numerous clinical and community impacts and overall negatively affects individuals who experience in all forms. Its effects can be felt in the mental health sphere in many forms. Representation and the intentional dismantling of systems of discrimination will help create a better experience for all and better care for BIPOC individuals. This article is created with information from Inclusive Therapists.