Uplifting Black Families and their Mental Health Care
By: Ashley Ball, MA, TLLP
& Maria Jones, PhD, LP
Mental health symptoms often present differently in Black youth, leading to misdiagnosis, inadequate care, and rising suicide rates. Black youth are more likely to be seen as aggressive and diagnosed with conduct disorder rather than being assessed for the real reasons behind their behavior. However, what looks like aggression may be a sign of unmet emotional or neurodevelopmental need, such as difficulty understanding social cues, sensory overwhelm, and routine changes (ASD); impulsivity and distractibility (ADHD); intense worries (anxiety); or deep sadness (depression). As a result, Black youth are more likely to experience delayed or inaccurate diagnoses; preventing or delaying access to services and intensifying the need for mental health care for them and their families.
While overall suicide rates among all youth are trending downward, suicide rates among Black youth are increasing at a faster rate than any other racial or ethnic group, rising by 144% since 2007 among 10–17-year-olds.
The misperception of Black mental health needs is often due to a lack of clinician training in cultural appreciation and unconscious biases. Systemic factors such as stigma, limited access to care and health insurance, and mistrust of the medical system contribute to this issue. Furthermore, the lack of health insurance among many Black families means that mental health care is typically only sought in crises, often leading to emergency room visits. Unfortunately, less than half of Black youth treated for mental health issues in emergency rooms follow through with the recommended outpatient care.
Finding the right support can be challenging, but help is available. The resources below can help you start your journey to the right care and to feeling understood, validated, and connected meaningfully.
Connecting to Culturally Sensitive Care
Research shows that Black youth are more likely to remain engaged in therapy when their therapist is Black. Having a Black therapist reduces cultural stigma and increases the understanding of cultural nuances that go beyond a clinical diagnosis. However, therapists of any cultural background can ensure they are providing treatment that is culturally aware. A culturally sensitive clinician will:
—Understand and address their own biases
—Ask about your experiences without assuming that they know
—Actively listen and learn about you, your family, and your culture without judgment
—Adapt their approach based on your needs
When and Where to Seek Help for Yourself or Your Child
Mental health care is not one-size-fits-all, but it can be found in a variety of places in your neighborhood beyond medical facilities. It can start simply by telling someone you trust about what you or your child are struggling with. Doctors' offices; school counseling offices; churches or places of worship; local support groups, community organizations, resource centers; and local or nationwide support hotlines are spaces where you can share your mental health needs and find other helpful resources. Below are local resources for general mental health support, as well as specialized options for Black families seeking peer and professional support related to autism.
Local Support Groups/Community Organizations:
Detroit Parent Network: Educates and empowers families about physical health, mental health, education, and parenting through resources, training, and support group services
Autism in the D: Focuses on supporting autistic individuals and their families in Detroit through access to local services and resources as well as through offering community events, play opportunities, and support meet-ups
The Color of Autism Foundation: Provides information and advocacy resources such as culturally responsive parent training and support groups, focusing on African American Autism Support
Hotlines:
Michigan Peer Warmline: Call (888) 733-7753 to anonymously speak to a peer support specialist who has lived experiences of mental health difficulties and is trained to support and empower the callers. Available 7 days a week; 10am-2am.
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: If you're unsure where to turn, call or text 988 anytime (24/7). If you or someone you know is showing signs of depression or expressing thoughts of suicide or harm, it’s important to seek help immediately by using the hotline or going to your nearest emergency room.
More mental health information and resources can also be found on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website at: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Black-African-American/