Mental illness affects every age group, gender, socio-economic status and culture, yet not all Americans have the same access to proper care. For example, only 20% of Asian Americans with mental illness receive treatment compared to 48% of white adults. And only 56% of African Americans and Latinx adults with serious mental illness receive treatment compared to 71% of white adults.

That’s why National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 2008: to help increase awareness of the barriers to mental health care for minority populations.

The issue is not only the ability to access care but also the ability to obtain effective care. Far too often, people don’t remain in treatment once they begin.