Why Black Mental Health In Palm River-Clair Mel, FL. 33619 Matters.
Why Black Mental Health In Palm River-Clair Mel, FL. 33619 Matters.
Why Black Mental Health In Tampa Matters. In the Tampa Bay area, African-American children are now more likely to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder than whites. In Florida, African-Americans are 5.7 times more likely to be confined for mental health treatment than whites. In Hillsborough County, blacks make up only 19% of the population but account for 44% of involuntary commitments for mental health treatment.
It’s no secret that racial discrimination is all too prevalent across America and in the Tampa Bay area in particular. African-American children are being held in confinement for mental health treatment more frequently than white children. In addition, minority populations are much less likely to receive adequate treatment services for their mental health illnesses because of language barriers, lack of insurance, and other obstacles.
The University of South Florida is committed to providing culturally competent care that will meet the diverse and changing healthcare needs of historically under-served populations such as African Americans and Hispanics. The National Institutes of Health have recognized that a full 15% of the population will suffer from a mental illness during their lifetime. This figure is especially significant given the prevalence of mental illness among African Americans.
In 2011, the Tampa Bay Times reported that African-Americans between the ages of 15 and 34 are 8 times more likely than whites to be admitted into a psychiatric unit and twice as likely to be hospitalized as a result of an emotional crisis. The study further indicates that compared to blacks aged 55-64, African-American men between 18 and 24 have a 57% higher chance of being admitted into a psychiatric unit. In addition, adults aged 35 and older who identify as black have, on average, two times the rate of hospitalization for mental health treatment than adults who identify as white or Hispanic.
The issue of mental health in the African-American community is a multifaceted one. There is still a large degree of stigma surrounding mental illness in the black community. The report cited above also found that 44% of African Americans who had previously suffered from depression or some other form of mental illness believed that their race was the main reason for their diagnosis. Of note, women are nearly twice as likely to experience depression as men, yet this statistic does not apply to African American women, who are more likely to experience depression than white women.
Choice Of Life Counseling LLC
410 S. Ware Blvd. #805
Tampa, FL. 33619
1 (813) 204-0560
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