Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)
Members of all ethnic groups struggle with mental health issues, whether these center around depression, anxiety disorders, or another realm of mental illness. However, individuals are BIPOC face a particular set of challenges on top of those that come from simply existing. Along with dealing with the challenges of life, BIPOC individuals must contend with the racism, discrimination, and systematic oppression inherent to our society.
What does BIPOC mean?
BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, People of Color.
This acronym was created to acknowledge that Black and Indigenous people have a unique relationship to whiteness, which informs their experience within our society. Although BIPOC includes all people of color, the acronym is meant to center the historical violence and racism that Black and Indigenous people have experienced and continue to face in the United States and elsewhere. While all members of BIPOC groups face racism and systemic oppression, Black and Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by mass incarceration, police brutality, and inadequate health care.
Systematic Oppression in Society
In a country rooted in colonialism and slavery, many of our systems are built to aid those who are already in power, causing BIPOC individuals to face systematic oppression, inequities, and discrimination at every turn. Members of BIPOC communities suffer from disproportionately high rates of poverty, incarceration, and homelessness, which is a result of the current systematic oppression and centuries of discrimination in housing, education, childcare and criminal justice.
This oppression starts young and is reflected in the classroom. Students of color with behavioral and mental health problems are disproportionately punished and arrested during school, rather than receiving the support that they need. This systematic oppression, along with factors like daily microaggressions and generational trauma built up over time, results in higher levels of stress and associated mental health issues within BIPOC communities. Along with this, Black individuals have higher rates of PTSD than other groups.
Although mental illness is an experience shared across all groups, living in a society that was built to oppress them gives members of BIPOC communities a unique set of struggles compared to those of white people.
Mental Health in BIPOC Communities
BIPOC individuals have similar rates of mental illness to that of white people, but these illnesses are more likely to cause impairment in daily life and last longer among BIPOC people. This is because mental illnesses are left untreated more often in BIPOC communities as a result of the many barriers to care. Because of this, there are glaring inequities in mental health between BIPOC communities and white people, which are manifested in quality of life, stress levels, length of life, and rates of disability.
Barriers to Care for BIPOC Therapy Clients
Stigma to Mental Illness
One trend within BIPOC communities is a stigma of mental health issues. In these communities, the stigma against having mental illness is typically stronger and more negative than the stigma that exists in other communities. This makes it more difficult to talk about and seek help for mental health disorders or feelings related to them.
Part of the reason for this strong stigma is that BIPOC communities have historically dealt with atrocities like slavery, segregation, displacement, and colonization. In the face of this, issues like depression are sometimes viewed as minor struggles that individuals should work through on their own. Along with this, BIPOC communities have a history of being mistreated by the healthcare system, leading to a distrust of medical care.
Racism and Discrimination
BIPOC communities have faced racism and discrimination for centuries and continue to do so in many aspects of daily life. This negatively affects one’s mental health, along with making it more difficult to access resources and function in society. Experiencing racism can lead to feelings of dehumanization, depression, anxiety, and chronic stress.
Language and Cultural Divides
Another difficulty for BIPOC clients looking for health care can be cultural differences. Mental illnesses are conceptualized differently in each language, and some clients may have grown up using different terms than “anxiety” or “depression.” This language barrier can cause confusion and frustration. Among BIPOC clients who are not experiencing a language barrier, there are still cultural differences in how ethnic groups approach mental health.
Lack of BIPOC Providers
The healthcare system as a whole is overwhelmingly white, and there is a clear lack of diversity among providers. Since those who are not BIPOC can never truly understand their life experiences, it can be difficult for BIPOC clients to feel heard when seeking out mental health support.
Cultural competence training is one way to offset this issue, giving providers the tools to approach topics related to race. Through this, healthcare providers learn about intersectionality, cultural identity, and their own implicit biases. Although this is a great way for white providers to improve their quality of care, the best solution is for there to be better representation of BIPOC communities within the healthcare system. All therapists at CBT/EMDR Associates have undergone extensive training in issues related to diversity, identity, and intersectionality.
Lack of Access to Care
Because of systematic racism and discrimination, members of BIPOC communities are much likelier to struggle with accessing mental health care. Since these communities are disproportionately affected by poverty and unemployment, they may face bigger challenges with insurance, payment, lack of transportation, and more. This, along with the fact that those who can access care will likely struggle to find a BIPOC care provider, often makes it difficult for BIPOC individuals to find mental health support.
How We Can Help
At CBT/EMDR Associates all therapist have undergone extensive training in issues related to cultural identity, diversity, and intersectionality. As a BIPOC individual it is important that you feel safe and comfortable discussing your personal experience of the world and feel heard by your therapist. At CBT/EMDR Associates we have the ability to help you work through the past, and current, traumas and stressors that can exist for many BIPOC in society.
BIPOC
Reach out now to schedule your free consultation and learn more about how we can help.