Racism affects every level of mental health care for people of color, from access to services to the quality of treatment received. While mental health conditions can affect anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, age, or gender, people of color often face structural, institutional, and interpersonal barriers when seeking care.
In the United States, nearly 1 in 5 adults experiences mental illness each year, yet people of color are significantly less likely to receive adequate mental health treatment. Discrimination, lack of culturally competent providers, and systemic inequities continue to widen this gap.
Understanding how racism operates in mental health care and what can be done to address it, is a critical step toward equitable, effective treatment for all.
What Racism in Mental Health Care Looks Like
Racism affects nearly every aspect of mental health care for people of color, from diagnosis to treatment outcomes. Below are some of the most common ways these disparities appear.
Racial Bias and Discrimination From Providers
Implicit racial bias can influence how mental health professionals diagnose and treat patients of color.
Research has shown that Black patients are more likely to be misdiagnosed with severe psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and more frequently prescribed antipsychotic medications. Providers may also incorrectly label patients of color as “noncompliant,” which can negatively affect treatment decisions and outcomes.
Lack of Cultural Competency in Mental Health Care
Cultural competency refers to a provider’s ability to understand and respect how a person’s culture, language, beliefs, and lived experiences shape their mental health.
For many people of color, barriers such as language differences, culturally rooted views of mental illness, and a lack of understanding of race-based trauma can result in miscommunication, misdiagnosis, or inadequate care.
Underrepresentation in Mental Health Research
People of color have historically been underrepresented in mental health research and clinical trials. This lack of representation limits how well treatments work across diverse populations and contributes to disparities in diagnosis and care.
Systemic barriers such as limited access to research institutions and individual barriers such as mistrust caused by historical discrimination—continue to restrict participation.
The Impact of Microaggressions
Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional behaviors or comments that reinforce stereotypes or dismiss lived experiences. In healthcare settings, these can create unsafe or invalidating environments for patients of color, discouraging them from seeking or continuing treatment.
How Racism Affects Access to Mental Health Care
Racism remains one of the most significant barriers to mental health care for people of color.
Studies show that individuals who experience discrimination are two to three times more likely to delay or avoid mental health services altogether. When multiple forms of discrimination such as racism and ageism overlap, the likelihood of unmet care needs increases even further.
How to Avoid Racism When Seeking Mental Health Care
For individuals seeking effective and respectful treatment, finding a culturally competent provider can make a meaningful difference.
Helpful resources include:
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Clinicians of Color
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Inclusive Therapists
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Health in Her HUE
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Asian Mental Health Collective
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Latinx Therapy
How We Can Change Racist Practices in Mental Health Care
Addressing racism in mental health care requires action at both individual and institutional levels.
Important steps include partnering with community organizations, diversifying and educating mental health professionals, and creating safe spaces for open discussions about race, culture, and bias. Long-term change must be driven by leadership and systemic reform.
Takeaway
Racism—whether expressed through bias, microaggressions, or structural barriers—continues to negatively affect mental health outcomes for communities of color.
Creating a more equitable mental health care system requires awareness, accountability, and sustained commitment to change.
