It is important to protect the mental health of minority and marginalized children and youth. These groups are at a higher risk for mental health difficulties due to factors outside of their control.
To have the biggest impact, mental health care should be tailored to the individual’s identity, culture and experience. A person’s therapy outcome is far better when their therapist understands how cultural differences play in mental health diagnoses and adjust their care to the client’s cultural needs and differences.
A 2016 study by the American Psychological Association showed that only 14 percent of psychologists in the U.S. workforce are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color). It is no surprise that individuals often have difficulty finding BIPOC therapists.