This Juneteenth, Dr. Gordon reflects on the persistent mental health disparities experienced by Black Americans and what NIMH is doing to try to reach the goal of true mental health equity.
“On Juneteenth, our nation commemorates a significant milestone in our history: June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom—more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.
Today, even as we celebrate freedom and the triumphs of enslaved African Americans, we also reflect on the enduring legacy of slavery and the consequential challenges faced by Black Americans. Among those challenges are persistent mental health disparities.
Mental illnesses are common in the United States, affecting tens of millions of people each year. Striking disparities exist in the prevalence, course, and outcomes of mental illnesses in the U.S. People from under-resourced and minoritized communities, including many Black Americans, are less likely to receive mental health care, and when they do receive care, they are less likely to receive high-quality, evidence-based mental health services.”
Read more at: Mental Health Equity
