National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder for racial and ethnic minority groups to get access to mental health and substance-use treatment services, including community members in North and South Dakota.
Throughout the month, the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) will share and promote tools and resources addressing the stigma about mental health among racial and ethnic minority populations. We encourage state, tribal, and local leaders, community-based organizations, faith leaders, healthcare providers and individuals to educate your peers, patients and communities regarding mental health stigma. Visit the OMH Web site for publications and resources that highlight the importance of spreading awareness on how to avoid and help dissipate mental health stigma in minority communities.
Attend the Great Plains QIN Behavioral Health Panel on Monday, July 25 at 3 pm CT to discuss behavioral health issues and access in the Dakotas and identify partnership opportunities for improvement. Learn more.
Best Practice Briefs: The Great Plains Quality Innovation Network partnered with the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care to offer a series of Best Practice Briefs to address barriers and challenges and offer resources and support to address disparities in the Dakotas. You can access the Series recordings and materials here.
Behavioral Health Implementation Guide for the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care
Over the past several years, behavioral health providers and education systems are recognizing the value of the National CLAS Standards in advancing behavioral health equity. To advance this effort, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) collaborated with OMH to develop the Behavioral Health Implementation Guide for the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care. This Behavioral Health Guide underscores the ways in which the National CLAS Standards can improve access to behavioral health care, promote quality behavioral health programs and practice, and ultimately reduce persistent disparities in mental health and substance use treatment for underserved minority communities.