Importantly, North Carolina has recognized a need for providing access to EHR systems to smaller/under resourced community centers by recommending Medicaid Increasing EMDR access for BIPOC individuals expansion funding be used on implementation of these systems, but the extent to whether this will be widely executed is still unknown (North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, n.d.). Additionally, having standardized methods of using EHRs to document and subsequently improve gaps in care is vital, but rarely implemented in behavioral health settings (Kariotis et al., 2022). One way to adequately understand differences in the type of resources needed for racially and ethnically minoritized populations is through consistent longitudinal data tracking such as electronic trails through the mental health and health systems.
Mental Health Support For Diverse Communities
In Ghana, the Ministry of Health allocation to mental health services has been raised from 1.0 percent to 1.4 percent of the annual health budget. We know that our sense of belonging as individuals, in our friendships, in school, and in communities plays a vital role in our mental health and wellbeing. Collaborations between mental health providers and community organizations can also significantly expand access to underserved populations. For instance, some communities may have stigmas surrounding mental health issues, leading individuals to avoid seeking help.
The language barrier and other obstacles
- We believe that children should not have to face mental health problems alone.
- “I also wish there could be a greater focus to change the mindsets of the poorer communities from thinking that mental health is a further sign of weakness as they strive to be resilient through their socioeconomic challenges,” they added.
- Prioritizing these factors in funding initiatives can ensure that underinsured/uninsured racial and ethnic minoritized groups are receiving care created for them and administered by individuals who look like them.
- Furthermore, the demand for mental health professionals is hindered by time constraints.
In summary, the MTG research consortium aims to establish a knowledge base to increase accessibility to mental healthcare and culturally adapt I-CBT for minority populations. Barriers to accessing mental healthcare in these populations include structural challenges such as language barriers, health literacy, and distance from needed care, as well as perceived barriers such as stigma and cultural norms . Our approach to addressing health disparities, encompassing diverse community input, helping to build a more diverse workforce, advocating for policy reform, and developing data-driven strategies will help create a more equitable health care system and help every population we serve live as healthy as possible. The MFP was originally created in 1973 by the National Institute of Mental Health and later transferred to SAMHSA to “increase the number of ethnic minorities in mental health professions and to provide more culturally competent care to an increasingly ethnically diverse population” (SAMHSA, 2020) in the United States.
Thus, I-CBT appears to offer a revolutionary approach to mental healthcare, with the possibility of providing accessible, convenient, and effective interventions. The Mind the Gap (MTG) consortium aims to increase mental health literacy and access to evidence-based internet-delivered treatments for minority groups. We believe that access to mental health care should be flexible and offered wherever patients need it, including virtually.
At every stage, the voices of people with lived experience must be front and centre. Reimagining care means also considering other strategies for scaling up include using digital technologies for self-help as well as peer-led initiatives. Research shows that it improves health and social outcomes and is cost-effective, also in low- and middle-income countries. These conditions affect hundreds of millions globally, yet often go untreated due to limited resources, stigma, lack of access and poor recognition.
