MHA's Blog: Chiming In

Mental Health America Celebrates Black History Month and African American Pioneers in Mental Health

Mental Health America (MHA) celebrates “Black History Month” and acknowledges pioneers in mental health who served as the impetus for raising awareness of the need for culturally competent care, mental health treatment services, as well as research and access to care for all Americans; particularly African Americans.  According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) statistics an estimated 19 million people in the United States experience depression each year. African Americans are a population that is less likely to seek help for mental illness. The lifetime prevalence rate of depression among African American women is 12.6 compared to 6.3 among African America men. African Americans shared history of inequality and discrimination has had its effects on the population. For more information and to read about African American Pioneers in Mental Health, go to our Black History Month page.

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In honor of Veterans Day (Friday, Nov. 11), let’s come together to pay tribute to the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces; patriots who have risked their lives in service to their country and the families who support them.

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The American Psychiatric Association is seeking your comments on proposed changes to the organizational structure of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health and other health professionals for diagnostic and research purposes. This restructuring of the DSM’s chapters and categories of disorders reflects the latest scientific thinking about how various conditions relate to each other, and may influence care.

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May 3 is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day-Building Resilience in Young Children Dealing with Trauma: National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is a key strategy of "Caring for Every Child's Mental Health", which is part of the Public Awareness and Support Strategic Initiative by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

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Dr. David Shern, president and CEO of Mental Health America, recently spoke about mental health policy at a seminar sponsored by the Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County.

Arguing that "the next century of mental health in the U.S. needs to be fundamentally different" from the last one, he makes the case for a new "vision for mental health now within our grasp."

The blog Our Health Policy Matters wrote about the talk and is linked here.