Reducing Stigma Associated with Mental health in Black Communities

According to a recent article in Behavioral Healthcare, statistics indicate that only one in three African Americans who need mental health care actually receive it, due to significant barriers in black communities such as racism, institutional mistrust, and lack of insurance. A new Web site, BlackMentalHealthNet.com, has been designed to empower the black community by promoting mental health and creating a private space for individuals to obtain information and resources. "Stigma often stifles the conversation regarding mental illness in the black community," says Harvard-trained psychiatrist Sarah Y. Vinson, the site's founder and chief editor. "Families too often base decisions on little information or misinformation. We hope to change that by providing facts and facilitating dialogue around mental illness in an environment of relative anonymity and acceptance." Posted at RECOVERe-works is an electronic circular of The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies' Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery.  Reposted at darkestcloset@blogspot.com