BIPOC Mental Health Workforce
The mental health workforce needs more diversity and training on cultural humility.
For BIPOC youth, it can be difficult finding a mental health care provider who understands their background or speaks their preferred language. An overwhelming majority of current mental health providers are white and speak only English. Being a BIPOC therapist can also be hard because racism, racial trauma, and burnout are real. However, we know that people are more likely to trust mental health support from people who share their cultural background or have an understanding of culture.
Kaitlin describes why it was important to find a therapist of color and offers suggestions for working towards diversifying the mental health workforce.
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Anti-Racism in Clinical Care
There is a critical need to make sure that the mental health workforce is more diverse and is trained on cultural humility. Mental health providers should value and understand culture, and incorporate anti-racism into clinical care. Until we can get there, we can use peer support and self-help tools to empower ourselves.
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Key Stats
86% of psychologists in the U.S. workforce are White. This is less diverse than the U.S. population as a whole. [source]
Only 24% of youth think training adults would help them with their mental health challenges, versus 47% who want to learn more about how to help their own mental health. [source]
Youth may have better experiences with telehealth than traditional therapy sessions, and it can increase access to culturally competent and specific clinicians. [source]
Resources
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Explore Related Action Area
Continue your engagement by learning more about and taking action on related issues.
Racial Justice & Mental Health
Crisis response & policing, the school-to-prison pipeline, intergenerational trauma and other inequitable conditions.
BIPOC Mental Health Workforce
The mental health workforce needs more diversity and training on cultural humility.
Crisis Response & Policing
Many counties deploy police for a mental health crisis even though they aren’t appropriate responders.
The School-to-Prison Pipeline and Mental Health
BIPOC students face unequal disciplinary action in schools.
Healing from Intergenerational Trauma and Racism
Racial justice is dependent on healing.
Restorative Justice
Rooted in indigenous practices, restorative justice focuses on building relationships.
