How to practice inclusivity and culturally competent care in mental health for african american

To practice inclusivity and
culturally competent care, anti-racism training in healthcare should be
implemented for both health professionals in the workplace and students in
health professions schools. Anti-racism training is defined as the intentional
provision and application of education to help individuals and organizations understand
systemic racism, along with the practices or structures that perpetuate it. The
training should include classes on the concepts of racisms/privilege/race, cultural
ethnicities, disproportionality. It aims to equip individuals with the
knowledge, skills, and awareness necessary to address systemic racism and
promote inclusivity and culturally competent care. By implementing anti-racism
training in both workplace and educational settings, this framework enhances
access to culturally competent care for patients from diverse racial and ethnic
backgrounds. The training fosters a more inclusive and supportive environment
within healthcare settings, where patients feel respected, understood, and
valued regardless of their race or ethnicity. This can lead to increased trust
and rapport between patients and providers, which is essential for effective
communication and engagement in care. Through increased awareness and
understanding of systemic racism and its impact on healthcare, health
professionals are better equipped to provide equitable care to all patients,
thereby reducing disparities in access and quality of care. According to Vega
et al. (2018), a multicultural school psychology course has shown effectiveness
in increasing students’ understanding and awareness of other groups’
experiences, as well as their multicultural awareness. Students who
participated in the course demonstrated a greater comprehension of concepts
related to racism, privilege, and cultural diversity, and showed a willingness
to put theory into practice by becoming more aware of their biases and
considering the experiences of other cultural groups. Anti-racism training is a
crucial component of this approach, as it provides individuals with the tools
and knowledge needed to recognize and challenge systemic racism within
healthcare and educational institutions.

An additional approach to promote
inclusivity and culturally competent care in health care is community
education. Community education about mental health is an important mission in providing
education to enhance awareness and understanding. It seeks to reduce the stigma
associated with mental health and mental illness and open the conversation
about what needs to be done to prioritize mental health treatment and support.
This approach should involve a diverse range of stakeholders, including
healthcare providers, community leaders, educators, and mental health
professionals. They should implement educational initiatives that are
specifically tailored to address the unique mental health needs and cultural
considerations of the Black American population. Community education about
mental health and wellness for Black Americans should include a variety of
topics relevant to their experiences and challenges, such as understanding
historical and systemic factors contributing to mental health disparities,
recognizing signs and symptoms of mental health conditions, navigating cultural
and societal barriers to care, accessing culturally competent mental health
resources and support, and addressing stigma and discrimination within the
community and healthcare system. By providing culturally sensitive education
and raising awareness about mental health issues within the Black American
community, this approach can help reduce stigma and increase understanding,
ultimately improving access to mental health care. By empowering individuals
with knowledge about mental health and available resources, community education
can encourage help-seeking behaviors and facilitate early intervention and
treatment. Additionally, community education initiatives can foster a
supportive environment where Black Americans feel comfortable discussing mental
health concerns and seeking support from peers and professionals who understand
their unique cultural context. According Ala et al. (2019), community-based
awareness program has been shown to be effectively in addressing mental health.
the participants were satisfied and tend to be affected positively toward a
better understanding of mental health issues and practicing more positive
habits related to mental health.

Medicaid expansion is necessary to
provide inclusivity and culturally competent care. Medicaid expansion should extends
coverage to low-income individuals who were previously uninsured or
underinsured. This expanded coverage includes access to mental health services
such as therapy, counseling, medication management, and psychiatric care. Medicaid
expansion reduces financial barriers to mental health care by providing
coverage with little or no cost-sharing for eligible individuals. This means
that Medicaid beneficiaries can access mental health services without having to
worry about high copayments, deductibles, or out-of-pocket expenses. According to Tyler & Virginia
(2018), Medicaid expansion was associated with substantial improvements in
mental health and access to care among low-income adults with chronic
conditions. These positive trends are likely to be reversed if Medicaid
expansion is repealed. Medicaid expansion helps address disparities in access
to mental health care by providing coverage to vulnerable populations,
including communities of color, low-income individuals, and individuals with
disabilities. By expanding coverage to these populations, Medicaid expansion
works to reduce disparities in mental health outcomes and promote health
equity.

The existing of limited
accessibility in mental health care of African Americans, which point to the
urgent of disparities mitigation. Combating disparities within the mental
health care system can be achieved by advancing policies like the cultural humility
framework, which focuses on anti-racist principles and teamwork with
community-based Black American organizations. There is evidence of the
framework’s potential to lower barriers to care and reduce racial disparities
in mental health services. Nevertheless, continued push is required to keep
check of this progress and to take forward the goal of giving every African
American fair mental health care.