While rates of mental health and substance use conditions do not differ significantly across most racial and ethnic groups, gaps in access to treatment persist for many communities of color. Significant work is needed to close this gap and to ensure that behavioral healthcare is culturally and linguistically appropriate, and that providers are representative of the communities that they serve.

 

Communities of color may also face additional threats to their mental health and overall well-being - such as poverty, discrimination, housing instability, and violence. New partnerships between health care and other sectors - like criminal justice and education - are helping to change community conditions and norms, promote greater healing, and prevent mental illness.

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Partners leading this work across California include:

 

California Pan-Ethnic Health Network

Prevention Institute

Public Health Enterprises, Inc. (Los Angeles County)

 

• CPEHN Report: Mind, Body, Spirit: Advancing Mental Health and Substance Use Equity

• CPEHN Brief: Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System: The Opportunities for California's Communities of Color

• Prevention Institute Report: Back to Our Roots: Catalyzing Community Action for Mental Health and Wellbeing and Executive Summary​

• Prevention Institute Infographic: Mental Health: A Path Forward

• Developing a Trauma and Resilience Focused Accountable Community for Health

• Webinars

  • Applying an equity-based approach to address the behavioral health needs of individuals and communities: recording, slides and additional resources

  • Expanding Capacity with Non-Licensed Providers: State and Practice Level Considerations for CHWs and Peers: recording, slides and additional resources

• Additional tools and examples of innovations in this area:

  • California Statewide Mental Health Disparities Plan

  • California Reducing Disparities Project

  • Adverse Community Experiences and resilience; A Framework for Addressing and Preventing Community Trauma

  • Mobilizing Action for Resilient Communities

  • Making Connections for Mental Health and Well-being Among Men and Boys in the U.S.: A Report on the Mental Health and Well-being of Men and Boys in the U.S. and Opportunities to Advance Outcomes related to Prevention, Early Intervention and Stigma Reduction

  • Resiliency in Communities after Trauma and Stress

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