Relationship Management

Which Groups Are Most Affected?

The Cage

While mental-health disorders impact everyone, some groups face more stigmatism than whites, explains Carolla. This can serve as a barrier to seeking treatment. Other underrepresented groups experience greater trauma and/or lack of access to quality care.

1. The number of diagnosed cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for both veterans and active-duty service members jumped 757 percent from 2003 to 2009, increasing from 1,632 to 14,000 (The Pentagon)
2. About 70 percent of Southeast Asian immigrants to the United States who receive mental healthcare have symptoms of PTSD (National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association)
3. American Indian/Alaska Natives have a higher rate of traumatic exposure, with a 22 percent rate of PTSD, versus 8 percent for the general U.S. population (U.S. Surgeon General)
4. One-third of all Americans with a mental-health problem get care, and the percentage of Blacks receiving care because of lower incomes and other factors is one-half that of whites. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, one study found nearly 60 percent of older Black adults were not receiving needed services. “African Americans are also less likely to receive accurate diagnoses,” adds Carolla.
5. Suicide among Black male tweens increased dramatically from 1980 to 1995. The rate of suicide among all children ages 10 to 14 increased 120 percent during that period, but the suicide rate for Black males in that same age group increased 233 percent (U.S. Surgeon General)
6. In a survey of students at more than 150 high schools nationwide, Latinoyouth were significantly more likely (10.7 percent) than white students (6.3 percent) to report a suicide attempt. Latinas were more than twice as likely (14.9 percent) as Latino males (7.2 percent) to have reported a suicide attempt (USSG)
7. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds, and LGBTQ youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers (The Trevor Project)

The full article can be found at:

http://www.diversityinc.com/article/7718/How-to-Create-a-MentalHealthFriendly-Workplace/