Child Mind Institute Survey, Resources Address Mental Health Care for Black Families
It can be a difficult decision to place a child on medication to treat a mental health condition or learning disorder.
The Child Mind Institute has put together a list of resources to address the possibility that Black parents in particular might be skeptical because of the history of misuse of psychiatric medication on Black patients.
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In a recent Child Mind Institute survey of Black families and young adults seeking mental health care, about half of the participants said they believed that mental health professionals are too quick to prescribe medication.
The survey identified key barriers of the participants’ experiences in seeking care. It also found that Black adolescent boys are less likely to seek care from mental health professionals than their female counterparts.
The institute’s resources address concerns about medication and how caregivers and clinicians can work together to get the best treatment for a child. They also explore why Black children with autism tend to be diagnosed late and Black teens with mood disorders are often misdiagnosed as well as how these challenges can be overcome.
The resources highlight the importance of having more Black and culturally competent mental health professionals available for Black children.
Below are the Child Mind Institute’s resources: