Every year in July, we dedicate National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to shed light on the unique challenges faced by racial and ethnic minority communities regarding mental health in the United States. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health encourages leaders at the state, tribal, and local levels, as well as community-based organizations, faith leaders, healthcare providers, and individuals, to educate their communities about mental health stigma.

The statistics reveal alarming trends. According to data from the CDC, suicide ranked as the third leading cause of death for African Americans between the ages of 10 and 24 in 2020. The suicide rate for African American men is four times higher than that of African American women. Additionally, African American females in grades 9-12 were 60% more likely to attempt suicide than their white counterparts.

Native Americans also face significant challenges. In 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death for Native Americans between the ages of 10 and 24. The overall suicide rate for Native American adults is approximately 20% higher than that of white adults. In fact, Native Americans had the highest suicide rate among all ethnic groups in 2021. In 2019, adolescent Native American females aged 15-24 had a death rate from suicide five times higher than that of white females in the same age group. During the same period, Native American males aged 15-24 had a suicide death rate twice as high as that of white males in the same age group.

Hispanic communities also face significant challenges in this regard. In 2020, suicide ranked as the second leading cause of death for Hispanics aged 10-24. Suicide attempts among Hispanic girls in grades 9-12 were 30% higher than those among white girls of the same age.

Disturbingly, from 2018 to 2021, suicide rates among youth aged 10-24 increased by 36% among African Americans, 16% among Native Americans, and 8.2% among Hispanics. In contrast, the suicide rate for white Americans decreased by 3.9%.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that despite the need, only one in three African American adults with mental illness receives treatment. Socioeconomic factors play a significant role in this disparity. In 2020, 10.4% of African American adults lacked health insurance. Among Native Americans, suicide remains highly stigmatized, perpetuated by myths and misunderstandings, such as the belief that discussing suicide will make it happen, that suicidal ideation is merely a cry for attention, and the mistaken notion that a person from a strong family would never consider ending their life. All of these beliefs are false. Furthermore, over half of all Hispanic adults aged 18-25 do not receive treatment for mental illness, possibly due to language barriers, limited health insurance coverage, legal status concerns, the stigma surrounding mental illness, and challenges related to acculturation.

To learn more about National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, please visit the Health Disparities page on the official website (National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month — Health Disparities) or explore the resources offered by The Jason Foundation. The Jason Foundation is committed to preventing suicide through education and awareness programs. For information on how you can support a loved one or friend struggling with mental illness or suicidal thoughts, please visit www.jasonfoundation.com. All programs provided by The Jason Foundation are available free of charge.