BIPOC communities face unique challenges in mental health due to racism, stigma, and limited access to culturally aware care.
Support is growing through community programs, more diverse providers, and better mental health education.
Healing is possible, and everyone deserves care that respects their background and helps them feel understood.
BIPOC mental health means the emotional and mental health experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of color. These communities often face extra stress from unfair treatment and not having enough therapists who understand their culture.
Finding care that respects your background can be hard. But things are getting better. More therapists are learning how to provide culturally aware support to BIPOC clients. With the right help, you can heal, grow, and feel understood.
Mental health disparities in communities of color
Mental health is important for everyone, but BIPOC communities often face unique challenges. These challenges can affect emotional well-being and make it harder to access care.
Factors like racism, financial barriers, and a lack of culturally sensitive providers can prevent many people from getting the help they need. Talking openly about BIPOC mental health is a key step toward change and healing.
Why mental health challenges can be more common
There are many reasons mental health concerns may be more common in BIPOC communities, including:
Systemic racism and discrimination, which can lead to long-term stress.
Generational trauma, passed down through families and history.
Limited access to care, especially providers who understand their background.
Cultural stigma about mental health or asking for support.
These experiences can lead to anxiety, depression, and other emotional challenges.
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Mental health patterns in BIPOC communities
Mental health experiences can look different across BIPOC groups. Some communities face higher risks for certain issues. These struggles are often linked to stress, discrimination, or lack of access to care.
Indigenous youth: Nearly 1 in 4 American Indian and Alaska Native teens have thought about suicide in the past year, and 12% have tried. These teens die by suicide two to four times more often than white teens.
Black youth: Between 2007 and 2020, suicide rates doubled among Black children ages 5 to 12. Black teen suicide attempts also remain higher than their white peers.
Latino teens: About 47% of Latino teens say they’ve felt very sad and hopeless everyday. Suicide attempts are also more common in this group than in white teens.
Black adults: Around 75% of Black people with mental health needs don’t get treatment.
Asian American communities: Less than 10% of Asian Americans get mental healthcare due to stigma or pressure to stay strong for their families.
These numbers show why it’s so important to improve access to care that understands and respects each person’s background.
Barriers to mental healthcare for BIPOC groups
Many BIPOC people want help but face extra blocks on the path to getting it, including:
Few providers who look like them: When mental health professionals don’t share your race or culture, it can feel hard to connect and be understood.
Lack of insurance or money: Therapy and medication can be expensive, and many people don’t have insurance coverage or enough money to pay.
Language and cultural barriers: If therapists don’t speak your language or understand your culture, getting help can feel confusing or unsafe.
Stigma around mental health: In many communities, talking about mental health is seen as a weakness. People might feel embarrassed or afraid of being judged.
Why intersectionality matters
Mental health is shaped by more than just race. Gender, culture, income, and sexuality all affect how someone experiences the world. For example, a person who’s both LGBTQ+ and Black may face more discrimination or isolation. Understanding these overlapping identities helps providers offer better, more personalized care.
How stigma and lack of care impact mental health
In many BIPOC communities, mental health is still a difficult topic to discuss. People may worry about being judged or seen as weak if they share how they’re feeling. This stigma often leads to hiding emotions or waiting until things become very serious before getting help. Because of this, many people delay seeking the support they need.
Delaying care can have serious effects. Mental health struggles like anxiety or depression can last longer and affect important parts of life, like relationships, school, or work. Over time, untreated mental health issues can also cause physical health problems, emotional exhaustion, or even thoughts of self-harm.*
Breaking the silence and creating safe spaces for help is essential to support well-being in BIPOC communities.
*The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 confidential support through trained crisis counselors. If you or someone you care about is experiencing emotional distress, self-harm, or a suicidal crisis, please call or text 988. For life-threatening emergencies or immediate assistance, call 911.
Efforts to improve mental health access
Many people and groups are working to make mental healthcare better for BIPOC communities. For a long time, these communities have had a harder time getting support. Now, more work is being done to make care fair and easier to reach.
Some ways people are helping include:
Teaching therapists about different cultures: This helps providers understand people’s values, backgrounds, and life experiences.
Creating community support: Local programs and support groups give people a safe place to talk and feel heard.
Changing laws and policies: Some U.S. states are making it easier to get health insurance and mental healthcare.
Training more BIPOC therapists: More programs are helping people of color become therapists. This makes it easier to find someone who understands your culture.
These changes are a good start. But there’s still more to do to make sure all BIPOC people get the care they need and deserve.
Finding the right mental health support
Finding the right mental health support can feel hard — especially if you don’t have easy access to a therapist or doctor. But there are still many ways to take care of your mental health, including:
Talking with trusted friends or family
Practicing mindfulness
Getting enough sleep and practicing good sleep hygiene
Staying active with gentle movement like walking or stretching
Eating nutritious, balanced meals to support your body and mind
Attending local events, workshops, or meetups that celebrate your culture and offer connection
When searching for a mental health provider, keep these tips in mind:
Look for someone who understands your culture and background.
Ask about their experience working with BIPOC clients or providing multicultural counseling.
Seek therapists who specialize in culturally informed care.
Use BIPOC-focused websites and organizations to find respectful providers.
Mental health struggles aren’t a sign of weakness. If you’ve had a hard time getting care or feeling heard, you’re not alone. More therapists are learning how to support BIPOC clients in respectful, informed ways. It’s OK to ask for help.
You have the right to get mental healthcare that understands your background and culture. You shouldn’t have to change who you are just to get help. If a therapist doesn’t get it or makes you feel uncomfortable, it’s OK to find someone else. There are providers out there who will respect you and your story.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
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BIPOC mental health is shaped by unique challenges like racism, stigma, and lack of access to culturally informed care. These barriers can make it harder to get support, but change is happening through better education, community programs, and more diverse providers. No matter your background, you deserve mental healthcare that sees you, respects you, and helps you heal.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we're here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
Rula's editorial process
Rula's editorial team is on a mission to make science-backed mental health insights accessible and practical for every person seeking to better understand or improve mental wellness.
Members of Rula’s clinical leadership team and other expert providers contribute to all published content, offering guidance on themes and insights based on their firsthand experience in the field. Every piece of content is thoroughly reviewed by a clinician before publishing.
