July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, which aims to highlight the unique mental health challenges faced by racial and ethnic minorities in the United States and advocate for strategies to remove barriers and combat stigma.
Oak Park Township’s Community Mental Health Board is one of the community resources that recognizes the month and provides resources and treatment.
The committee will act as a funder and supporter of mental health, substance use and developmental disability services for Oak Park residents. Additionally, the committee will conduct a community needs assessment.
“What we’re doing is identifying the specific needs of Oak Park residents and funding programs that remove barriers to care,” said Cheryl Potts, executive director of the Community Mental Health Board.
Potts said National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is significant because minorities have similar rates of diagnosed mental illness as non-Hispanic whites, about 20 percent to 25 percent of the overall population.
“The biggest issues are access to treatment, engagement and care. About half of white people are seeking treatment, which is still a very low number. But the rates drop significantly for other minorities: 40% for blacks, 35% for Latinos and 25% for Asians,” Potts said.
Potts has more than 25 years of experience in the humanitarian field. As an Oak Park resident and someone living with mental illness, Potts has personally addressed the challenges he wants to alleviate for his neighbors. With a family history of mental illness and addiction, Potts experienced a tragic loss in 1999 when his brother committed suicide.
“To me, mental health is more than just a job. It’s my life’s passion. I believe that if people have the information and the ability to access treatment, recovery is possible and it can save lives. Unfortunately, my brother did not recover, but I can recover and live,” Potts said.
Potts stressed that representation is important: She explained that the aim of the awareness month is to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and bring awareness that mental health support is needed by people of all ages.
Potts says these disparities are of serious concern to community workers because those who receive care and treatment have significantly better life outcomes. Recovery is achievable and rewarding, but many people suffer in silence rather than seek help.
“Minorities face unique challenges compared to their white counterparts, including lack of insurance, being unable to afford health care, and being uninsured or underinsured, and these issues are especially prevalent in Black and brown communities,” Potts said.
Stigma and cultural competency barriers are also significant issues, as mental health care providers tend to be white and female, which can pose barriers for members of Black and Latino communities who have unique cultural experiences that affect their mental health.
“These people may not be able to connect with a white woman sitting on the other side of the table. Representation is important and the goal of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is to break down these stigmas and recognize that mental health support isn’t just for one demographic,” Potts said.
To better understand and address the mental health needs of the community, the Community Health Board conducts a needs assessment every three years.
“The data shows that ethnic minorities are not participating in healthcare at the same rates as white people. To address this issue, we’re funding several programs focused on early intervention, particularly with adolescents and young adults, highlighting the importance of mental health and trying to reduce the stigma around self-care,” Potts said.
Some of the programs the board works with are the Youth Education Mentoring Basketball Association, and the board also funds programs on the therapeutic side, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness for peer networking and engagement.
The Board works closely with partners who provide a valuable service twice a week and maintain strong connections.
“One of the significant issues we face is the rise in overdoses, affecting both Chicago’s west side and the neighboring western suburbs,” Potts said. “The West Side Opioid Task Force is addressing opioid-related issues, but in Oak Park we are also focusing on other substances, such as those laced with fentanyl. Additionally, we are experiencing shortages of Adderall and ADHD medications.”
“My niece has overdosed seven times and has thankfully been sober for four years. While the opioid epidemic and overdoses may seem like a distant issue, these crises affect our family directly. I am grateful to organizations like Live4Lali for saving my niece’s life when she was ready for recovery,” Potts said.
Potts outlined her long-term goals for improving mental health in Oak Park Township’s minority community. She stressed the importance of increasing the number of people receiving treatment.
“The goal is to remove barriers to care, many of which stem from racist systems and structures. Minority communities suffer higher rates of intergenerational trauma and have difficulty accessing mental health services,” Potts said. For example, new immigrants such as Venezuelans experience more trauma and therefore require a culturally responsive approach. We need to recognize that one solution does not fit all.”
Potts emphasized the need to understand and address individual needs through therapy, medication and other appropriate services, and to facilitate access to these resources.
Potts added that the most important action people can take is to continue discussing mental health, destigmatizing it and making it a part of everyday life.
“Just like we talk about people’s physical health, what they eat, how much water they drink, we should make conversations about mental health the norm so individuals feel comfortable accessing treatment and reducing anxiety,” Potts said.
It’s essential to have authentic, in-depth conversations about mental health. Potts believes sharing personal stories is crucial because others need to hear them. Potts said increasing the dialogue around mental health helps normalize the topic and makes it easier for individuals to seek and receive care.
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