The National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED) is a network of community-based organizations focused on the mental health and substance use issues of diverse racial and ethnic communities. The NNED supports information sharing, training, and technical assistance towards the goal of promoting behavioral health equity.
The Race Matters Institute works toward a more just and vibrant nation where every child, family and community thrives. For more than a decade they have helped government units, nonprofits, community-based and regional organizations, philanthropies, and state and national networks to become more race-informed and equity-focused in their work.
Their customized training, technical assistance, coaching, and product development advance concrete actions in both operations and programming that strengthen an organization’s mission performance. They focus specifically on promoting racial equity in organizational strategies, policies, and practices.
Racial Equity Tools is designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. This site offers tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities and the culture at large. The Organizational Assessment Tools and Resources section is especially relevant for implementing racial equity and inclusion in organizations.
Based in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States, Western States Center works nationwide to strengthen inclusive democracy so that all people can live, love, and work free from fear.
CCHCP has been providing consulting and assessment services for health care institutions since 1992. Large hospital and university systems, small agencies as well as community coalitions have called upon CCHCP’s expertise to lead their organizations through the demands of changing patient demographics, accreditation standards and funding mechanisms.
Services include: Organizational assessments; Community assessments: using qualitative research methods such as focus groups and key informant interviews to identify trends and areas for improvement; Initiatives: implementing cultural competency initiatives for staff, managers and executives following the National CLAS Standards; Coalition Building: developing state and county wide health coalitions and partnerships.
Behavioral Health Equity is the right to access quality health care for all populations regardless of the individual’s race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, geographical location and social conditions through prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use conditions and disorders. Find resources for behavioral health equity here.
The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (MHDD) National Training Center is a collaboration between the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the University of Kentucky, University of Alaska Anchorage, and Utah State University. Established in 2018 through funding provided by the Administration for Community Living, we work to improve mental health services and supports for people with developmental disabilities. By serving as a national clearinghouse, we help provide access to the most current evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices that address the mental health needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.
The Center works with New York State Mental Health Services to investigate and disseminate best practices in the delivery of culturally competent mental health services to under-served populations who are affected by cultural and linguistic barriers.
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is a healing justice organization committed to transforming mental health for queer and trans people of color (QTPoC). We work at the intersection of movements for social justice and the field of mental health to integrate healing justice into both of these spaces.
Find data on health disparities and health care quality among diverse populations, cultural and linguistic competency, health literacy, and health reform.
Resources on the LGBT population include national survey reports, agency and federal initiatives, and related behavioral health resources.
Access resources and online training on cultural competency from SAMHSA and other agencies and organizations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted already existing inequities and disparities in health and behavioral health issues, and in access to and receipt of effective healthcare for some populations in the US. The MHTTC develops events and resources to address disparities in receipt of effective mental health services, on topics such as workforce diversity, cultural and structural competence, and provision of culturally appropriate services, as well as mental health effects of social determinants of health, racism, and discrimination. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are also developing events and resources specific to the differential effects of COVID-19 on mental health care for specific populations. Here, we highlight MHTTC training and technical assistance products and resources related to disparities, as well as a compilation of resources from other reputable organizations.
The National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC works with organizations and treatment practitioners involved in the delivery of mental health services to AI/AN individuals, families, and tribal and urban Indian communities to strengthen their capacity to deliver effective evidence-based practices and experience-based practices to individuals, including the full continuum of services spanning mental illness prevention, treatment, and recovery support. You will find many helpful resources on the website.
The National Hispanic and Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) will serve as a key subject matter expert and resource for workforce and community development across the U.S. and its territories to ensure that high-quality, effective mental health treatment and recovery support services, and evidence-based and promising practices are available to help reduce health disparities among Hispanics and Latinos experiencing mental disorders, in particular, those with serious mental illness.
Resources on the topic of race in behavioral health, substance use and prevention, children and adolescents, and discrimination and privilege.
Each July, several mental health organizations across the country shed light on the multitude of mental health experiences within communities of color, including Black and Indigenous people, and others that face disproportionate inequities due to systemic barriers and historical adversity.
With an emphasis on early psychosis, this brief reviews clinical and organizational best practices to promote culturally and linguistically responsive care, with a focus on Latinx sub-populations.
This webinar addresses culturally and linguistically responsive care, with an emphasis on Latinx sub-populations. Implications for practice and research applicable to multiple service settings with varying service sectors are discussed.
This practice brief is intended to help clinicians —particularly those who administer Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for individuals with serious mental illness—to enhance their cultural awareness and incorporate culturally-relevant practices into their formulation and treatment approach.
Produced by Western State Center
In response to requests from American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, Western States Center partnered with the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, the Center for Native American Youth, and Native Youth Leadership Alliance to develop a resource toolkit for and with young Native leaders.
Indigenizing Love is written to support Native youth, tribal communities, Two-Spirit and Native LGBTQIA+ collectives, community leaders, and partners who intend to better understand and support our Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Produced by Boston College, Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture
In this era when accounts, videos, and images of multiple police killings of African-Americans are more widely circulated in various media than ever before, communities of color may experience post-trauma symptoms. The Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture has released a toolkit for managing symptoms at #racialtraumaisreal which is available to download.
This tool kit, distributed by the Community Healing Network, was developed by and for people of African ancestry, for self-care, family-care, and community care. It is designed to comfort and inspire people of African ancestry in these difficult times.
Produced by Western States Center
Americans across the country report a rise in white nationalism and other bigoted extremism. Because schools are hubs of our communities, they have become battlegrounds for extremist organizing and recruitment sites for white nationalist groups targeting young people.
In this toolkit, we’ll share strategies to counter white nationalist organizing through sample scenarios that schools frequently encounter.
Produced by the University of Washington's School of Public Health
Ijeoma Oluo, Editor at Large of The Establishment, discusses her book, "So You Want to Talk About Race." She offers a contemporary, accessible take on the racial landscape in America, addressing head-on such issues as privilege, police brutality, intersectionality, micro-aggressions, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the “N” word.
Produced by the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (a SAMHSA-funded initiative) at the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health
This webinar identifies factors contributing to adverse mental health outcomes among Hispanic and/or Latinx communities that have recently immigrated or sought asylum in the U.S., and offers providers meaningful intervention strategies for supporting individuals with these experiences.
Produced by Urban Indian Health Institute; a division of Seattle Indian Health Board
In this video Dr. Lonnie Nelson (Eastern Band Cherokee) discusses the Native values compatible with motivational interviewing and why this clinical method is relevant for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Recorded on July 10, 2013, in Seattle, WA.
Produced by the Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
This webinar addresses culturally and linguistically responsive care, with an emphasis on Latinx sub-populations. Implications for practice and research applicable to multiple service settings with varying service sectors are discussed.
Submitted by OBHE
The corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic has revealed deep-seated inequities in health care for communities of color and amplifies social and economic factors that contribute to poor health outcomes. Recent news reports indicate that the pandemic disproportionately impacts communities of color, compounding longstanding racial disparities.
Produced by The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Unintended racial prejudices are deeply rooted in all U.S. institutions. Use this questionnaire to find out if they are part of your organization. The questions use a racial lens to size up staffing and operational aspects. The assessment then offers additional tools and next steps based on how the organization scores. This tool is part of a Race Matters toolkit. For more information visit the Race Matters Institute website.
Produced by National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC
Disparities in health care and mental health care are more evident than ever. Some areas of concern include limited access to high-quality care and the availability of culturally grounded evidence-based treatment and services for Hispanics and Latinos. To address these disparities, the National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC released this publication in June 2020. It emphasizes the social determinants of health (SDOH), as well as non-medical health-related social needs (HRSN) and their impact on mental health outcomes. This publication also offers recommendations for mental health providers, researchers, and consumers to reduce disparities among Latino communities, including increasing awareness and the importance of being trained in culturally grounded evidence-based interventions.
American Psychological Association
Explores common, long-standing patterns of social marginalization and stigmatization experiences that have uniquely compromised health, safety and well-being. This executive summary is from the report of the American Psychological Association (APA) Working Group on Health Disparities in Boys and Men and the APA Health Disparities Office. Racial/ethnic and sexual minority males are two of the most persistently unhealthy groups in the United States.
National Conference of State Legislatures
To understand how legislators address behavioral health challenges and disparities in their states, NCSL conducted an analysis of all legislation related to behavioral health disparities that was introduced in 2017. This brief summarizes behavioral health issues and challenges, highlights state actions from the 2017 legislative sessions, and identifies common legislative approaches, as well as emerging strategies, to improve access to behavioral health providers and services.
This beautiful edition of the National American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Technology Transfer Center's newsletter, Mental Health in our Native American Communities for Fall 2019 is titled "First Episode and High-Risk Psychosis".
This issue is titled "Suicide, Trauma, and Finding a Way to Heal."
Created for the Northwest Region by the National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC, this fact sheet shares data on the number of Native youth and recognized tribes in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and outlines cultural, communication, and classroom-based tips for supporting Native youth.
This issue brief presents recent data on prevalence of opioid misuse and death rates in the Black/AA population; contextual factors & challenges to prevention & treatment; innovative outreach & engagement strategies to connect people to evidence-based treatment; and the importance of community voice.
By Mimi Abramovitz & Lisa V. Blitz, Springer Nature
A study on the lasting impact of Undoing Racism Workshops among social workers and others in the New York City metropolitan area.
By Kimberly F. Balsam, Palo Alto University, National Center for Biotechnology Information, UW Nat'l Library of Medicine
Previous research suggests that sexual minorities are at greater risk for trauma exposure, mental health problems, and substance use. To date, few studies have examined racial/ethnic differences among sexual minorities in relation to health-related behaviors and outcomes. Furthermore, studies of racial/ethnic differences among young adult sexual minority women (SMW) are virtually non-existent. The current study adds to the previous literature by exploring differences in trauma exposure, sexual identity, mental health, and substance use in a non-probability national sample of young adult SMW.
By Mariam Khan, Misja Ilcisin and Katherine Saxton. Published by International Journal of Equity in Health, Posted online by BioMed Central, part of Springer Nature
Research report, using baseline data from the Project STRIDE: Stress, Identity, and Mental Health study, the authors examined the health effects of discrimination among individuals who self-identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, concluding that multifactorial discrimination is a fundamental cause of mental health inequities and may be an important cause of broad health disparities among populations with intersecting social identities.
By Natalia Gurevich, Society for Women's Health Research
An article about how mental health issues disproportionately affect sexual and gender minorities, who are affected by more discrimination and stigma throughout their lives than the general population.
By American Psychological Association
This article looks at the racism pandemic with a psychological lens in order to explore how to use anger, pain, and hopelessness in a productive way. At the end of the article are many additional resources and research.
By The Management Center
In this article, we share our best thinking on supporting your staff at a time when things are not okay (and haven’t been for a long time). We try to envision a path forward for managers and leaders and create and share tools for managers that honor the humanity of their teammates.
By Tia Dole, Ph.D., Chief Clinical Operations Officer, The Trevor Project
Black LGBTQ young people hold multiple marginalized identities. Under the minority stress model, experiences of discrimination, rejection, threats, and violence are compounded, and can lead to negative mental health outcomes. This article includes a discussion of common feelings, how people can take care of themselves, and what others can do to support.
By Peggy McIntosh, Associate Director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women
This article raises consciousness of the socially constructed perquisites of being deemed White in American society and offers a partial list of such perquisites as a starting point for reflection, conversation, and action.
By Peggy McIntosh, Associate Director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women
In the same vein as the author's article on White privilege, this article draws attention to the socially constructed perquisites of being deemed straight and/or cisgender in American society and offers a partial list of such perquisites as a starting point for reflection, conversation, and action.
