206:, and communicate higher instances of intense symptoms/disability. For this reason, researchers have attempted to examine the sociological causes and systemic inequalities which contribute to these disparities in order to highlight issues for further investigation. Nonetheless, much of the research on the mental well-being of Black people are unable to separate race, culture, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or behavioural and biological factors. According to Hunter and Schmidt (2010), there are three distinct beliefs embraced by Black people which speak to their socio-cultural experience in the United States: racism, stigma associated with mental illness, and the importance of physical health. African Americans are less likely to report depression due to heavy social stigma within their community and culture. These social aspects of mental health can generate distress. Therefore, discrimination within the healthcare community and larger society, attitudes related to mental health, and general physical health contribute to the mental well-being of Black people.
219:
than their white counterparts. Similarly, children of immigrants, or second-generation
Americans, often encounter barriers to optimal mental well-being. Discrimination and its effects on mental health are evident in adolescents' ability to achieve in school and overall self-esteem. Researchers have been unable to pinpoint exact causes for Black teenagers' underutilization of mental health services. One study attributed it to using alternative methods of support instead of formal treatments. Moreover, Black youth used other means of support such as peers and spiritual leaders. This demonstrates that Black teens are uncomfortable disclosing personal matters to professionals. It is difficult to decipher if this is cultural or a youth-related issue, as most teens do not choose to access formal providers for their mental health needs.
227:"Mental health stigma, particularly personal stigma, is important because those who hold stigma beliefs are less willing to obtain the needed treatment (1-9). Often due to stigma, individuals will avoid treatment until the disorder is nearly incapacitating. This avoidance is particularly pronounced in members of ethnic minority groups because they are less likely to seek mental health treatment than those of European Americans . Expressly, Immigrants who hold personal stigma against mental illness are less likely to seek treatment. Its often that immigrants feel stigmatized because they're already undocumented which makes them feel embarrassed, causing them to refrain from treatment.
245:
This discrimination has the potential of affecting their feelings of self-worth and confidence, leading to anxiety, depression, and even suicidality. It is for this reason that members of the LGBTQ+ community may experience higher rates of mental distress than their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts. Along with the increased risk of experiencing mental distress, members of this community may refrain from seeking mental health care due to past discrimination by medical professionals. In addition to the lack of knowledge and research with this population, this group is marginalized due to the lack of funding as most of the funds go to campaigns for the younger LGBTQ+ population.
185:, a chemical that regulates the brain's functioning, it can lead to depression, appetite changes, aggression, and anxiety. Another cause of mental distress can be exposure to severely distressing life-threatening situations and experiences. A third cause, in very rare cases, can be inheritance. Some research has shown that very few people have the genetics for the potential to develop mental distress. However, there are many factors that must be accounted for. Mental distress is not a contagious disease that can be caught like the common cold. Mental distress is a psychological condition.
31:
78:" interchangeably. Some users of mental health services prefer the term "mental distress" in describing their experience as they feel it better captures that sense of the unique and personal nature of their experience, while also making it easier to relate to, since everyone experiences distress at different times. The term also fits better with the
210:
schema to slavery and have suggested that the schema persist because of the struggles that
African-American women continue to experience, such as financial hardship, racism, and sexism. Watson and Hunter state that due to the Strong Black Woman schema, Black women have a tendency to handle tough and difficult situations alone.
73:
that places them at increased risk for experiencing mental distress as well. This may be something which resolves without further medical intervention, though people who endure such symptoms longer term are more likely to be diagnosed with mental illness. This definition is not without controversy as
244:
Those who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community have a higher risk of experiencing mental distress, most likely as a result of continued discrimination and victimization. Members of this population are often confronted with derogatory and hateful comments (physically and/or through social media).
235:
There has been a history of disparity and exclusion in regards to the treatment of Black
Americans which consists of slavery, imprisonment in the criminal justice system, the inability to vote, marry, attend school, or own property amongst other factors. These factors have attributed to the increase
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Comparable to their adult counterparts, Black adolescents experience mental health disparities. The primary reasons for this have been stipulated to be discrimination, inadequate treatment, and underutilization of mental health services, though Black youth have been shown to have higher self-esteem
209:
There are also disparities with mental health among Black women. One of the reasons why Black women tend to neglect mental health support and treatment is the aura of the Strong Black Woman schema or S.B.W. According to Watson and Hunter, scholars have traced the origins of the S.B.W. race-gender
45:
encompasses the symptoms and experiences of a person's internal life that are commonly held to be troubling, confusing or out of the ordinary. Mental distress can potentially lead to a change of behavior, affect a person's emotions in a negative way, and affect their relationships with the people
180:
Minor mental distress cases are caused by stress in daily problems, such as forgetting your car keys or being late for an event. However, the major types of mental distress described can be caused by other important factors. One such cause is chemical imbalances in the brain, which can lead to
939:
Bridges AJ, de
Arellano MA, Rheingold AA, Danielson CK, Silcott L (March 2010). "Trauma exposure, mental health, and service utilization rates among immigrant and United States-born Hispanic youth: Results from the Hispanic family study".
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of mental distress in the Black community and due to the lack of resources afforded/known in the community also leads to a lack of resources and treatments available for members of the community to seek and receive some for of help.
102:, without actually being 'ill' in a medical sense. People with mental distress may also exhibit temporary symptoms on a daily basis, while patients diagnosed with mental disorder may potentially have to be treated by a psychiatrist.
94:" interchangeably. However, it can be argued that there are fundamental variations between mental distress and mental disorder. "Mental distress" has a wider scope than the related term "
813:
Alexandre PK, Younis MZ, Martins SS, Richard P (2010). "Disparities in adequate mental health care for past-year major depressive episodes among white and non-white youth".
684:
Watson NN, Hunter CD (October 2015). "Anxiety and depression among
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Americans: challenges and opportunities".
266:
265:
Medicine, Institute of; Health, Board on
Neuroscience and Behavioral; Terrorism, Committee on Responding to the Psychological Consequences of (2003-08-26).
202:, African Americans are 30% more likely than European Americans to report serious psychological distress. Moreover, Black people are more likely to have
416:
98:", which refers to a specific set of medically defined conditions. A person in mental distress may exhibit some of the broader symptoms described in
912:
Dotterer AM, Lowe K (November 2015). "Perceived discrimination, parenting, and academic adjustment among racial/ethnic minority adolescents".
69:, or accidents such as the death of a loved one) can induce mental distress. Those who are members of vulnerable populations might experience
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The symptoms for mental distress include a wide range of physical to mental conditions. Physical symptoms may include sleep disturbance,
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877:(December 1994). "The crucible within: Ethnic identity, self-esteem, and segmented assimilation among children of immigrants".
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The social disparities associated with mental health in the Black community have remained constant over time. According to the
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294:"The Burden of Loss: Unexpected death of a loved one and psychiatric disorders across the life course in a national study"
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A study published in 2021 found that "LGBTQ+ students experienced more bullying and psychological distress".
426:. Harborview Medical Center, Health Sciences Library, University of Washington. August 2003. Archived from
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Hobaica S, Kwon P, Reiter SR, Aguilar-Bonnette A, Scott WD, Wessel A, Strand PS (December 2021).
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999:"Perceived and Personal Mental Health Stigma in Latino and African American College Students"
726:"The prevalence of perceived discrimination among African American and Caribbean Black youth"
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Preparing for the
Psychological Consequences of Terrorism: A Public Health Strategy
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some mental health practitioners would use the terms "mental distress" and "
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irrational decisions and emotional pain. For example, when the brain lacks
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Some psychiatrists may use these two terms "mental distress" and "
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Symptoms and experiences that are troubling, confusing, or unusual
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Seaton EK, Caldwell CH, Sellers RM, Jackson JS (September 2008).
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Shim RS, Compton MT, Rust G, Druss BG, Kaslow NJ (October 2009).
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1049:"Black & African American Communities and Mental Health"
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Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
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DeFreitas SC, Crone T, DeLeon M, Ajayi A (February 2018).
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Cultural
Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology
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Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology
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110:The following are types of major mental distress:
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661:"Black And Depressed: Overcoming The Stigma"
49:Certain traumatic life experiences (such as
1120:Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy
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914:Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology
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474:Bouchez C (1 January 2006). Chang L (ed.).
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34:Woman portraying the emotion of stress.
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120:Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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1079:Generations (San Francisco, Calif.)
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1162:(7273): 1412, author reply 1413.
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231:Demographic and societal factors
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815:Journal of Health Care Finance
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298:American Journal of Psychiatry
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223:Common stigma among immigrants
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659:Borchard T (15 August 2011).
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171:compulsive/obsessive behavior
1150:Goldberg D (December 2000).
926:10.1016/j.appdev.2015.08.003
343:Goldberg D (December 2000).
271:. National Academies Press.
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1156:BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)
147:anorexia (lack of appetite)
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1003:Frontiers in Public Health
891:10.1177/019791839402800407
532:10.1176/ps.2009.60.10.1336
476:"Emotional Distress Signs"
80:social model of disability
1168:10.1136/bmj.321.7273.1412
792:10.1521/suli.2007.37.1.22
393:"Mental Distress Changes"
361:10.1136/bmj.321.7273.1412
204:Major Depressive Disorder
200:Office of Minority Health
1016:10.3389/fpubh.2018.00049
730:Developmental Psychology
498:Social Anxiety Institute
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1201:Mental Distress Changes
984:Silverman et al., 2001
570:Psychological Bulletin
457:Internet Mental Health
214:African-American youth
43:psychological distress
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18:Psychological distress
1053:Mental Health America
640:Gonzalez et al., 2008
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1216:Psychological stress
975:Nicolas et al., 2009
520:Psychiatric Services
453:"Bipolar I Disorder"
189:In the United States
151:loss of menstruation
966:Thomas et al., 2009
665:The Huffington Post
141:Symptoms and causes
1132:10.1111/asap.12258
698:10.1037/cdp0000015
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526:(10): 1336–1341.
278:978-0-309-16792-5
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51:bereavement
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670:2016-03-01
437:2020-08-24
399:2010-06-01
252:References
125:Depression
100:psychiatry
53:, stress,
920:: 71–77.
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183:serotonin
155:headaches
57:, use of
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431:(PDF)
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106:Types
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