It’s “Mental Health Wellness Week,” a good time to shine a light on mental health issues that aren’t necessarily at the forefront of national mental health news– like how different population segments tend towards different mental health issues. In an excellent article Duke University’s Chronicle, Zaynah Alam addresses some aspects of this, noting how ethnic minorities and members of the LGBQT community experience different issues and approach treatment differently. Here’s an excerpt from her article. And, if you’re in the greater Cleveland area, and you recognize yourself or someone you love in this article, the Center for Effective Living can help.
On both the national and campus levels, minority students often grapple with different mental health challenges than those faced by their non-minority peers. The causes vary widely, from historic barriers within the mental health system to underlying stigmas…
J’nai Adams, program coordinator at (Duke’s) Center for Multicultural Affairs, noted a recent rise in the number of students of color acknowledging mental health struggles and working to get help through Counseling and Psychological Services and other avenues.
“There’s been an uptick in student of color going to CAPS and students of color going on leave, and I don’t think it’s anything new, but I do feel like it’s a domino effect,” Adams said, noting that as more minority students are open about difficulties with mental health, others seem to be more likely to seek out help themselves.
Blue Devils United President Daniel Kort, a senior, said he has seen a similar trend in the LGBTQ community—which has historically had a higher rate of mental illness than the general population, according to the American Psychological Association.
“I’ve really come to learn that the LGBTQ community has very distinct mental health concerns as opposed to our heterosexual peers,” Kort said. “[LGBTQ individuals are] increasingly susceptible to anxiety, depression, disordered eating and substance abuse.”