Multi-Cultural Mental Health Awareness

I mentioned last My Way post that I would be writing another installment of my Mental Health Series soon, and here it is. July, as I said, is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Yes, it is mid-August. But, just as I conveyed in my post World Mental Health Day, 2014 & NAMI Multi-Cultural Action Center (posted in October), I write on this topic as I feel led. This is a sensitive subject for many, so I want to make sure my timing is right. Today, I simply want to share a few passages and articles that touched me.

“People with mental health problems say that the social stigma attached to mental ill health and the discrimination they experience can make their difficulties worse and make it harder to recover. 

Mental illness is common…We know that people with mental health problems are amongst the least likely of any group with a long-term health condition or disability to:

find work 
be in a steady, long-term relationship 
live in decent housing  
be socially included in mainstream society. 

This is because society in general has stereotyped views about mental illness and how it affects people. Many people believe that people with mental ill health are violent and dangerous, when in fact they are more at risk of being attacked or harming themselves than harming other people.

Stigma and discrimination can also worsen someone’s mental health problems, and delay or impede their getting help and treatment, and their recovery. Social isolation, poor housing, unemployment and poverty are all linked to mental ill health. So stigma and discrimination can trap people in a cycle of illness.

The situation is exacerbated by the media. Media reports often link mental illness with violence, or portray people with mental health problems as dangerous, criminal, evil, or very disabled and unable to live normal, fulfilled lives.

This is far from the case.

Research shows that the best way to challenge these stereotypes is through firsthand contact with people with experience of mental health problems.” www.mentalhealth.org.uk

“Mental health within minority communities is a sensitive issue that needs addressing. In a report from the Surgeon General in 2001, these issues were highlighted while exploring the problems of biases, stereotypes and racism within the healthcare system. The report also emphasized the benefits of shared historical experiences and culture…Dr. Jei Africa examined the question, “What do we know right now?” …In 2012, SAMSHA conducted a study that pointed out the major issues within Minority Mental Health. The study put financial hardship and lack of insurance as the ethnically universal concern. They found that the idea that mental healthcare “would not help” was the least cited reason across the board.

Studies show that depression is mentioned as a possible diagnosis for a person 43% of the time if the person is white, and only 27% if the person is black. This is despite the findings that 38% of white people were less likely to talk about their depression opposed to only 11% of black people. When questioned on this vast difference of behavior, providers answered that they think white people suffer more than black people. Acknowledging the present disparity in the system and hold providers to a standard that accommodates minorities is a necessary next step.

How can we change the healthcare system for the better?

Administering cultural training to providers
Providing financial literate classes for healthcare needs
Implementing a medical model that is adaptive instead of coercive

It is difficult at times for any person living with a mental health condition to receive the care that they need, but every person deserves equal opportunity for treatment.” Tackling the Challenges of Minority Mental Health, Nami.org

As you can see from these passages, social inclusion and cultural adaptations are concrete ways to improve the lives of those with mental health conditions. I hope many of you let the information provided in these articles sink into your thinking. The more we are armed with this knowledge and wisdom, the more we can fight the sometimes awful stigma and discrimination that can be faced.

I do not want to overwhelm you with too much information today, so I will just leave you with additional article links. I have researched so many interesting pieces, but I cannot list them all in one post. As it stands now, this is already quite lengthy. Perhaps I will just have an article link post one day.

My Previous Mental Health Series Posts: 

Shattering the Stigma of Mental Illness, NAMI Southern AZ Mental Health Walk 2015, Mental Illness Discrimination & Exploitation, World Mental Health Day, 2014 & NAMI Multicultural Action Center, Mental Illness Awareness Week, Mental Illness Facts and Myths, & Cafe 54, Tucson, AZ, What is Stigma?, NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness Stigma Alerts Archive (many of these archives are no longer listed, so I may post a few at some point), University of Arizona Camp Wellness

Further reading:

McCray ties mental health to income inequality | capitalnewyork.com.
Stigma over mental illness holds back funding, Andrew Robb tells summit | theguardian.com
The Mental Health Parity Act: A Legislative History | congressionalresearch.com
Bhanu’s Story: India’s Quiet Epidemic Of Housewife Suicides | indiaspend.com
Farmers’ tractor selfies raise cash for suicide prevention charity | fwi.co.uk
Column: Suicide — it’s not just the kids | stillwatergazette.com
Chicago Hispanic News, Lawndale News, Hispanic Bilingual Newspapers, NAMI Chicago Honors Saint Anthony Hospital Mental Health Supervisor with Community Health Advocate of the Year Award | lawndalenews.com
Cantrell to host forum on mental health in minority populations | uptownmessenger.com
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s 2015 Inaugural Address | denverpost.com
Toronto police background checks no longer include mental health incidents | t.thestar.com
‘Anxious’ Hong Kong needs an effective mental health body | chinadaily.com.cn
Cherry Hill teen comfortable discussing bouts with mental illness | jewishvoicesnj.org
Mental health and African Americans: Breaking the tradition of silence | amsterdamnews.com
Africa: View On Disability – SDGs Lack Mental Health Ambition | allafrica.com
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: CAMFT encourages all minorities to get mental health support | news-medical.net
Deepika Padukone Foundation | bollywood.celebden.com
African women leading the charge in philanthropy | africanbrains.net
Asian-Americans Tackle Mental Health Stigma | webmd.com
Reclaiming One’s Dignity: Overcoming the Prejudice and Discrimination of Mental Illness | sfvcmhc.org

50 Healthy Snacks Under 200 Calories + Free Dessert eCookbooks

50 Healthy Snacks Under 200 Calories That You Will Love! | Trimmed and Toned.

I’ve been getting myself re-acquainted with calories in certain foods. I do this every so often. I know many people detest any knowledge of caloric value — they think it just adds one more item to an already overloaded daily schedule, haha. For myself, I want to know what nutritional value (or lack of it) the foods I am consuming have, but I do not like to constantly think about calories, etc. So, I solve this problem by periodically refreshing my memory. Or, sometimes, I might start enjoying a new food or recipe I want to know a little more about. Besides reading labels, nutrition apps & websites help me out tremendously in this quest. Not only with calories, but sugar, sodium, fat, protein, vitamin, and mineral content as well. I also LOVE food blogs that include nutritional information with their recipes. Takes all the guess-work out of it for us! If you’re at a restaurant and think it appropriate (not a rude tech interruption), you can always use apps for a quick search for menu items. Some apps even have chain restaurant and fast-food items already in their system. Otherwise, portion control techniques like the ones here always come in handy.

I am a big snacker, and many times I try to keep my snacks to about 100-150 calories. But, depending on the entire day’s consumption & activity levels, I may go as high as 200-250. I do have days I just go for indulgence, though, lol. It’s an individual thing, of course, but I thought I would share this under 200 cal post. Lots of yummy-looking options to choose from. For the most part, snacks and meals with healthy ingredients that start tipping the scales in calories per (reasonable) portion become somewhat unhealthy in my book (unless you really adjust the rest of the day’s meals). Or, many people assume certain foods (they’ve been taught are healthy) can be eaten in unlimited quantities. I think this is one possible reason some get frustrated while restricting. My Fitness & Sports Science classmate tickled me by saying she couldn’t lose weight because of hummus. With all the good-for-you olive oil & things, she said she was eating it by the shovel. Then, one day, she looked at the calories and the “light came on,” lol. I also had a co-worker trying to lose a bit, but she kept consuming bowls full of nuts and calorie-dense foods. Knowledge is power!

8 Easy Dessert Recipes for Summer Free eCookbook | FaveHealthyRecipes.com.

8 Healthy Cake Recipes for Any Occasion Free eCookbook | FaveHealthyRecipes.com.

I also wanted to share these 2 Sweetness free eCookbooks I found on the same site as the Healthy Appetizers post. I’m really enjoying that site! They have several eCookbook offerings, so make sure to take a look. Remember, you can always improvise ingredients if you do not have everything available (or to better accommodate your personal taste or diet/lifestyle).

Happy Healthy Snacking!