The Task Force is part of the government-wide effort to identify and eliminate health and social disparities that result in disproportionately higher rates of exposure, illness, hospitalization and death related to COVID The Task Force's mission is to provide specific recommendations to the President of the United States for mitigating inequities caused or exacerbated by the COVID pandemic and for preventing such inequities in the future.

On February 10, , President Biden and Vice President Harris announced 12 individuals to serve as non-federal members of the Biden-Harris COVID Health Equity Task Force. The Task Force is chaired by Marcella Nunez-Smith MD. Nunez-Smith has also asked six additional Federal agencies to be represented on the COVID Health Equity Task Force as federal members.

This includes the United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, and Department of Labor.

They may struggle to confront it internally or fear the reaction they would earn from their family or social circles. They might worry that people would treat them differently or that there would be consequences at work.

Eradicating the stigma and shame around mental illness is critical for increasing access to care. Mental illness has long flown under the radar, especially compared to physical disease or injury. It can also be challenging to diagnose and understand. Society's attitudes have often misrepresented people with different mental illnesses as being lazy, dramatic and emotional, or worrying too much.

Only recently has mental illness come into sharper understanding in the broader culture. Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI are hard at work increasing awareness around mental illness, educating the public about it, and destigmatizing it in its many forms.

The U. is facing a general shortage of medical professionals, especially in mental healthcare. The Health Resources and Service Administration HRSA reports that million Americans live in an area with insufficient mental healthcare providers to serve the local population.

Even fewer mental health professionals offer services for lower-income clients or those without insurance. Those who do are often flooded with demand and may experience long waitlists to make an appointment. They face more challenges relating to their identity , often from people close to them.

Some do not feel safe revealing their identity, which can interfere with accessing care that addresses their needs. The lack of acceptance from friends and family can also increase the prevalence of suicidal thoughts.

Substance abuse has a few more barriers that can prevent people from getting the help they need. These barriers include:. A high level of communication, coordination, and compassion is necessary for substance abuse treatment to be accessed, much less successful.

Though these barriers are real and challenging for many people today, there are also reasons to feel hopeful. Mental health and substance abuse have entered more conversations than ever. Advocates, mental health professionals, and researchers are all busy uncovering ways to improve mental health care access for everyone.

Creating awareness and developing more education around mental health care are the first steps to breaking down these barriers. Part of this process is removing the stigma that still surrounds mental illness.

Defanging stigma is a team effort. Medical providers, therapists, religious leaders, teachers, and community organizers must receive education on how stigma clouds mental health care.

The misconceptions around mental health must be clarified. Support from family, friends, and community must be emphasized. If you feel safe doing so, sharing your experience is one way to contribute to increased awareness and decreased stigma around mental health. Efforts to train and hire more mental health professionals from diverse backgrounds are another essential piece of the puzzle.

Many people feel safer or more comfortable opening up to someone who shares or relates to their experience. The good news is that more people from minority groups than ever are matriculating into psychology programs. That means more diverse providers for more patients. Until that happens, culturally appropriate training must be offered to all mental health professionals so they can confidently treat their patients.

Mental health care needs to become a permanent part of primary care. Primary care providers need to conduct mental health screenings in their offices. Screenings can help reveal mental illness that has gone underlooked. Communication is the most important element of mental health care.

Treatment for any mental illness or substance abuse issue requires clear communication and understanding. Providers must learn how to ask the right questions and how to truly hear what their patients say. There is no shame in experiencing these issues, and mental health professionals are here to help.

Jackson House can help you access the care you need. Explore your treatment options today. We specialize in substance use disorders and helping you find sobriety.

Our Team Treatment Programs Admissions Recovery Family Resources FAQ Strategic Plan Privacy Policy Contact Careers. Top 6 Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Care Several obstacles may stand in the way of accessing care.

Financial Barriers The cost of treatment is often prohibitive. Racial and Ethnic Barriers People who belong to a racial, ethnic, or cultural minority group are more likely to struggle to access care than white people.

Inequality affects everything from access to quality doctors to affordable housing. Racism and discrimination can compromise mental health. Groups that come face to face with inequality often experience tremendous stress just living everyday life.

This stress can undoubtedly worsen depression or anxiety. Research shows that mental health inequities exist in professional treatment settings. First, most research focuses on white participants. This means health professionals may overlook serious symptoms in minority populations.

Racial misdiagnoses can also inadvertently impact the kinds of options people have for mental health treatment. For example, research shows that Black people are over-diagnosed with schizophrenia.

This phenomenon occurs because professionals sometimes perceive cultural mistrust as a psychotic symptom. Misdiagnosing causes complications. It can lead to people not getting the correct prescriptions for medications. Health professionals may turn away people who desperately need help.

Underdiagnosis also exists. Yet doctors tend to screen their minority patients less thoroughly for eating-disorder symptoms, so they may not get the help they need. We know that mental health conditions often progress if untreated. Inadequate screening can result in devastating consequences.

Choosing not to be racist is one thing. Being a true ally requires you to understand how racism works in the first place.

Allies can offer ongoing awareness about systemic racism, and they can engage in calls to action to initiate change. Instead, aim to learn about your own privilege. Learn about the existing systems of oppression.

While sometimes insidious, it exists everywhere. Pay attention to it, so you can use your privilege to initiate and create change. Numerous books, articles, and documentaries can help you educate yourself. As an ally, you can take the responsibility to devote time and effort to learning about the experiences of others.

Listening is essential for understanding. Listen to voices of color. Listen to your minority friends. Most of all, listen without thinking about what you want to say next.

Active listening requires mindfulness. Instead of focusing on giving advice or proving how tolerant you are, give the speaker your full attention. Just listen. As you listen, remain open-minded and curious. Racism exists everywhere.

Call it out when you see it. At times, this may feel uncomfortable. Instead of running away from it, lean into the discomfort.

It signifies the need for change and reform. Change can also happen at a societal level. Encourage local mental health organizations to include minority staff. The current narrative review hopes to spark scholarly interest in this critically neglected area.

This article opens with a review of special emphasis populations and their alcohol-related risks. This is followed by a discussion of factors that may particularly influence recovery among marginalized minority populations.

This narrative review concludes with a discussion of research priorities for promoting health equity through studies focused on understanding and supporting recovery from AUD among marginalized minority populations.

Wagner, E. Recovery in Special Emphasis Populations. Alcohol Research: Current Reviews , 40 3. Recovery in special emphasis populations Special emphasis populations in the current context can be defined as groups experiencing health disparities resulting in elevated risk to health, safety, and well-being from drinking alcohol.