988 Disapora Campaign for Mental Health
Questions to ask your therapist to ensure they're sensitive to your needs
To make sure you’re getting the help you need, here are some questions you should ask a therapist of any background. Remember, you’re completely valid in asking these questions and in no way should you feel bad for asking. When your mental health is on the line, every precaution should be taken.
Have you ever had a patient with my background?
Are you knowledgeable about my culture and are you aware of any biases or misconceptions you may have about it that could affect my treatment from you?
How have you handled clients that have had issues with racism, discrimination, homophobia, or religion?
Are you uncomfortable speaking about matters concerning race, sexuality, identity, or suicide?
Are you open to feedback?
What type of therapy do you provide?
What insurance do you accept? What are your payment plans?
U.S. MENTAL HEALTH FACTS
• Black people are more likely to use emergency rooms or primary care physicians rather than mental health specialists.
• Only one-in-three Black people who need mental healthcare receive it.
• Black people living below the poverty level are twice as likely to report serious psychological distress than those living over the poverty level.
• Research indicates that Black people believe that mild depression or anxiety would be considered “crazy” in their social circles and discussions about mental illness are not appropriate.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-14.
• Black people are less likely than whites to die from suicide at all ages. However, Black teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide than white teenagers (9.8% versus 6.1%).
•In 2020, suicide was the third leading cause of death for Black people ages 15 to 24.
• The death rate from suicide for Black men was four times greater than for Black women in 2018.
• The suicide rate among Black people increased by 19.2% between 2018 and 2020. The largest increase was among those ages 10 to 24 with the suicide rate among Black youth rising by 36.6%.
• Black patients are more frequently diagnosed with schizophrenia and less frequently diagnosed with mood disorders compared to whites with the same symptoms.
• Black patients are less likely to receive guideline-consistent care compared to whites.
• One in six youth ages 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
• Fifty percent of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
• Among people under age 18, depressive disorders are the most common cause of hospitalization.
• People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population.
• High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers.
• Students ages 6-17 with mental, emotional or behavioral issues are more likely to repeat a grade. • Seventy percent of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition. • 500,000 veterans are incarcerated in local jails with 55% reporting experiencing a mental illness.
• Among incarcerated people with a mental health condition, people of color are more likely to be put in solitary confinement, be injured and stay incarcerated longer.
Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health; Psychology Today; NAMI; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration