Disabled Talk

(tw for discussion of racism, institutionalization, abuse, in links)People of Color and Mental Health

wretchedoftheearth:

I got a message from the anon from an ask ladyatheist’s tumblr about mental ilness and PoC, and I got an anon asking for this information and I feel it is a good reference/starting point so I am making it into a post.

A lot of literature regarding people of color and mental illness is about the stigma within the Black community or Latin@ community, rather than the struggles faced from within mental health institutions, so I am mostly posting other kinds of links.

History

History of black people and mental institutions (link)

In Our Own Voice: African-American Stories of Oppression, Survival, and Recovery in Mental Health Systems (link) (pdf)

Racism and Mental Illness (link) (pdf)

Fact Sheets

African American Community Mental Health Fact Sheet

Bipolar Disorder and African-Americans

Mental Health and African Americans

Mental Health and American Indians/Alaska Natives

Mental Health and Asian Americans

Mental Health and Hispanics

“African Americans Have Limited Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care”

Journal Articles

“Barriers to Providing Effective Mental Health Services to American Indians” (link)

“Bias in Mental Health Assessment and Intervention: Theory and Evidence” (link)

“Disparities in Mental Health Treatment in U.S. Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups: Implications for Psychiatrists” (link)

“Effective Coping Strategies of African Americans” (link)

“Ethnic Disparities in Unmet Need for Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Care” (link)

“Help Seeking for Mental Health Care among Poor Puerto Ricans: Problem Recognition, Service Use, and Type of Provider” (link)

“Racial Microaggressions Against African American Clients in Cross-Racial Counseling Relationships” (link)

“Racism and Mental Health: the African American experience” (link)

“Racism and Mental Health Into the 21st Century: Perspectives and Parameters” (link)

I haven’t had a chance to check these out yet, but this looks like a great resource list!

I’d like to add a few books here, namely:

What the Blues is All About: Black Women Overcoming Stress and Depression- Angela Mitchell & Kennise Herring, 1998

Nothing to Hide: Mental Illness in the Family- Jean J. Beard & Peggy Gillespie, 2002

(Nothing to Hideis a compilation of interviews and writings on mental illness from both the people living with it and their families.  A significant number of the people in the book are poc, and there’s discussion of their experiences of navigating the health care system in a racist world.)

The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease- Jonathan Metzl, 2011

Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman’s Journey Through Depression- Meri Nana-Ama Danguah, 1999