Mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, but many people may not know about existing disparities and access challenges. To improve access to care and create solutions, it’s essential to learn more about mental health disparities, social determinants of health, and how technology can play a role.

With these tools, you can develop and implement effective mental health solutions that make a positive impact on individuals and communities alike.

The Mental Health Awareness Series

Mental Health Awareness Series (Pt. 1): Culturally Intentional Mental Health Care

Keywords: minority mental health, inclusive therapy

Hurdle Health is a telehealth provider of culturally intentional mental health care. Their unique approach focuses on cultural humility and cultural responsiveness by training therapists to connect with clients whose backgrounds may be different from their own. Through telehealth and group therapy options, Hurdle Health is transforming mental health care for historically marginalized communities who struggle with access and stigma. In the first part of our mental health awareness series, Kevin Dedner shares his personal experiences with mental health care and the insights he has learned from his time at Hurdle Health.

Mental Health Awareness Series (Pt. 2): Value-Based and Whole-Person Addiction Treatment

Keywords: addiction, substance use, health disparities

Eleanor Health — inspired by the Greek meaning of the name Eleanor, “shining light” — is dedicated to transforming the quality, delivery, and accessibility of addiction treatment using value-based and whole-person approaches to care. In our series for Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Harrison shares how Eleanor Health is helping to not just make mental health and addiction treatment services more available, but also to make them better for all communities and individuals.

The Stress Series

Stress Series (Pt. 1): Reducing Physician Stress and Burnout With Digital Health Solutions

Keywords: physician burnout, solution development

Meg Barron, the Vice President of Digital Health Strategy at the American Medical Association, leads the efforts to develop and implement digital health initiatives that align with the AMA’s strategy and mission. She also works to establish partnerships that support these goals. In the first part of the Stress series, Meg Barron explains how digital health tools can help doctors, increase capacity, and lessen administrative tasks.

Stress Series (Pt. 2): Making Mental Wellness a Focus for Your Health Solution

Keywords: stress, mental wellness strategies

Liberation Health Strategies is a consulting agency that helps individuals and organizations create and carry out plans to promote health equity and justice in communities, across the nation, and around the world. In the second part of the Stress series, Dr. Toni Lewis, the President and Founder of Liberation Health Strategies, discusses how she prioritizes mental health in all of her work and shares her personal practices for maintaining mental wellness.

General Resources

Mental Health Disparities Factsheets — American Psychiatric Association

Keywords: health disparities, minority mental health

These factsheets provide a summary of mental health status and disparities among minority groups, such as BIPOC communities, the LGBTQ+ population, and refugees/asylum-seekers. To support your health solution development, learn about each community’s background and how social factors can affect their health differently than other groups.

Trends in Telehealth and Its Implications for Health Disparities — Center for Insurance and Policy Research

Keywords: mental health access, telehealth

In 2022, the Center for Insurance Policy and Research published a study that examines one of the main advantages of telehealth: Reducing inequalities in health care access, particularly for mental health. These inequalities may be due to physical barriers, like those faced by people in rural areas, or social barriers, such as stigmatization experienced by LGBTQ+ communities. Telehealth can be a useful option for those who face mental health challenges because it can be more accessible than traditional mental health care.