July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness in the United States.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in 2021, it was estimated that only 39 percent of Black or African American adults, 25 percent of Asian adults, and 36 percent of Hispanic/Latino adults with any mental illness were treated, compared to 52 percent of non-Hispanic white adults.
The HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) is committed to advancing Better Mental Health Through Better Understanding by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health care services, information, and resources.
Visit the OMH National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month webpage for shareable social media messages, downloadable graphics, mental health resources, webinar recordings, our free and accredited behavioral health e-learning program, and our Behavioral Health Implementation Guide.
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OMH has released a series of resource guides on best practices to advance cultural competency, language access, and sensitivity toward Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NH/PI) communities in the context of the federal COVID-19 response.
The guides were developed by OMH based on input and information gathered through a request for information, a literature review and environmental scan, engagement of community subject matter experts, and a listening session with leaders from AA and NH/PI organizations.
In line with the Presidential Memorandum Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States, this series includes the following three guides:
- Language Access Resource Guide
- Community Engagement Resource Guide
- Data Disaggregation Resource Guide
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July is Fibroid Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and supporting the many women who are suffering from these benign tumors that grow in the uterus of women of childbearing age.
According to the Office on Women’s Health, African American women are more likely to develop fibroids than white women. Additionally, about 20 to 80 percent of women develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50. While most fibroids may not cause symptoms, some may cause abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, enlargement of the lower abdomen, frequent urination, complications with pregnancy, reproductive problems, and more.
If you are experiencing symptoms or have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, educate yourself, be sure to discuss your treatment options with your health care provider, and ensure that the treatment recommended is best for you.
Participating in clinical trials can also help doctors learn more about safe treatments for fibroids. Visit the FDA Office of Women's Health Women in Clinical Trials webpage, also available in Spanish, to learn more about participating in a clinical trial and to find a study.
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Every year, World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28 to raise awareness about the global impact of viral hepatitis and bring about significant changes that facilitate prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This year’s theme, “We’re Not Waiting,” aims to bring the global community together to call for the acceleration of hepatitis elimination efforts and to celebrate those who are already taking action in their own lives and their communities.
Did you know that every 30 seconds someone loses their life to a hepatitis-related illness? According to the World Hepatitis Alliance, 325 million people globally live with hepatitis, with more than 1.1 million lives lost each year to hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Yet, there are tools available to eliminate the disease by 2030, including effective treatments and vaccines.
As part of the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan, HHS created the Mapping Hepatitis Elimination in Action tool to track the growing number of hepatitis elimination projects that have been established across the U.S. and help connect and raise awareness of nationwide initiatives.
Additionally, in 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the Global Immunization Strategic Framework 2021-2030, which provides a roadmap to achieving progress toward a world where everyone is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
To learn how you can get involved in the fight against viral hepatitis or to download campaign materials and resources, visit the World Hepatitis Day website.
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Think Cultural Health is an OMH initiative that provides health and health care professionals with information, continuing education opportunities, and resources to learn about and implement CLAS and the National CLAS Standards.
In honor of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, OMH encourages you to take the Improving Cultural Competency for Behavior Health Professionals e-learning program. The free online program for behavioral health professionals is designed to enhance knowledge and skill levels as it relates to culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
Behavioral health professionals can earn up to five continuing education hours upon the completion of the self-paced program, which is accredited for counselors, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers.
Other free accredited e-learning programs include:
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Swimming is a fun, healthy way to stay physically active and spend quality time with family and friends. To improve pool safety, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission launched Pool Safely: Simple Steps to Save Lives, a national public education campaign to reduce childhood drownings, submersion injuries, and entrapments.
Data shows children in minority communities tend to drown at higher rates and have disproportionately lower swimming abilities than white children. According to CDC, Black children ages 10 to 14 drown in swimming pools at rates 7.6 times higher than white children.
The good news is that drowning is completely preventable! Learn how to keep your family safe in and around water by implementing these simple safety steps and by taking the Pool Safely Pledge.
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In honor of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, the OMH Knowledge Center is sharing a collection of resources about access and barriers to linguistically and culturally appropriate mental health care for racial and ethnic minorities. Topics include mental health literacy, the stigma around mental illness, patient-centered mental health care, overcoming language barriers, culturally adapted mental health education programs, and more.
This collection is available for free through the online catalog.
Looking for more information on a topic included in this collection? View our search tips page for guidance on searching the online catalog, or contact the OMH Knowledge Center directly for research assistance.
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