It’s not news that women of color continue to suffer disproportionately in the modern age, affected by everything from little slights to outright discrimination more often than their male and white counterparts. Still, it may be surprising that recent data has shown this general minority group similarly struggling more with mental health. This is caused by various factors, from direct emotional baggage to internal blockades and genetic susceptibilities, all of which the world should be aware of.
According to a chair and medical Erica Martin Richards (M.D., Ph.D.), women are at least twice as likely to experience an episode of major depression as men, and African American women are only half as likely to seek help as their Caucasian counterparts. In addition, cultural sensitivity discourages self-reporting, adding to feelings of being alone in mental battles as many generations consider seeking help a weakness.
The Center for American Progress furthers this statement, reporting that new mothers of color, notably, have a rate of postpartum depression about two to three times higher than the rate for all new mothers. This vast disparity reflects significant gaps in screening and treatment for mental health issues among women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. As a result, adverse life experiences are piled on women of color of all ages, sometimes setting younger generations back and limiting their potential.
As such, it is of immense importance that we raise awareness of the disproportionate effects of this issue, both for the prevention of future problems and the de-escalation of current ones. With the semi-recent onset and lengthy continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has been a significant setback for people of all kinds. The sooner we learn as a community to work together to overcome this, the better off we will be as a whole.
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