b'COMMUNITYColorados Mental Health ProblemBy Maya WheelerAAmericarankedColorado report released this year by Mental Health deadlastoutofthefiftyUSstates in terms of adult mental health care, meaning that while Coloradan adults havesomeofthehighestratesof mentalillnessinthecountry,they experiencesomeofthelowestrates ofaccesstocare.Whilethisfinding should have been a call to action that the mental health care infrastructure in Colorado needs significant reform, asofnowverylittletangibleaction has been made to try and correct this dire reality. This comes after the pandemic has taught many to take the mental healthMaya Wheelerissues of both themselves and others seriously, as lockdowns, never-ending quarantines and fear of the unknownWhenoverhalfofColoradanswith causedmanypeoplesmentalhealthamentalillnesssaytheyhavenot totakeadownwardspiral.However,receivedtreatmentinthepastyear, moreneedstobedonethanjustlawmakers on both sides of the aisle raisingawarenessofthispotentiallyneedtorecognizetheurgencyofthe catastrophic issue; people need to bematter and work together to fix it. made aware of the treatment options available to them, and know that theyColoradoshealthsystemclearly can do more than just talk about theirhasaseriousproblem,andwords mental health issues: they can actuallyalone wont solve it. Potential solutions solve them.onthepolicysideincludeimproving Unfortunately, this is easier said thanaccessibility,sothatthosewhoneed doneforpeopleofcolor,particularlytreatmentcanaccessitinatimely BlackColoradans.BlackAmericansmannerratherthanendingupon weredisproportionatelyimpactedbymonths-long wait lists. the COVID-19 pandemic as they baredThose of us not on the policymaking the responsibility of being among oursidecanhelpbyworkingtode-stig-countrys essential worker population.matize mental illness and encouraging Combinedwiththerecenteconomicthose suffering to get treatment, and downturn, its no wonder why mentalspreading the word about the resourc-illnessratesforpeopleofcolorhavees available to them. Such resources increased. People of color also tend toinclude the new 988 lifelineif youre be less likely to seek out mental healthexperiencingamentalhealthcrisis, treatment and receive a lower standardyoucannowcallthisnumberfrom of care than white mentally ill peopleanywhere in the US and be connected when they do.withatrainedprofessionalwhowill TheColoradoHealthInstituteofferimmediateassistanceandcon-recently found that black and Hispanicnect you with helpful resources. Coloradans are more likely than theirRecentimprovementshavebeen white counterparts to experience seri- made to try and combat these intensi-ouspsychologicaldistress,butarefying issuesColorado was one of four lesslikelytoreceivetreatment.Overstates with the highest adult suicidal 7,000,000BlackAmericansreportedideation rates in the country to enact having had a mental illness in the pastlegislationtobetterimplementthe yearacrosstheUS,amatterthatisaforementioned 988 lifeline. compounded by the fact that institu- This is a step in the right direction tional barriers such as cultural stigma,andshowsthatourgovernmentis medicalized racism, and socioeconom- aware of the mental health crisis this ic factors prevent those suffering fromstateisexperiencingandismaking a mental health condition from gettingsteps to address it. the proper care. A2015studyfoundthat86%ofWemustalsoensurethereiscon-psychologists working in the US weretinuityofcareforthosewhoneed white, making it difficult for membersit.WemusttrusttrainedMedical oftheBlackcommunitytoaccessProfessionals to give patients the psy-culturallycompetentmentalhealthchiatrictreatmentstheyneedimme-treatment that takes into account thediately, as they do for other physical waysinwhichinstitutionalracismailmentsandinjuries.Individualized canimpactmentalhealth.Anothercareformentalwellnessshouldnot study found that physicians were lessdifferentiatefromindividualizedcare engagedwithpatient-centeredcom- for physical wellness.municationwiththeirBlackpatientsThough lawmakers and the Governor compared to their white patients. Thishave already made tremendous prog-resultsinBlackpatientsbeingmis- ress, when it comes to mental health, diagnosedathigherratesthantheirespecially the mental health of people whitecounterpartsevidentbyhowofcolor,wecanneverdotoomuch Black men are four times more likelytohelpthoseinneed.Reformsare to be misdiagnosed with schizophrenianeeded now.than white men. BODY OF CHRIST NEWS NOVEMBER 2022 follow us onfacebook 5'