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When we think of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the name resonates with the fight for freedom from segregation and civil rights justice for people of all racial backgrounds and classes. Often overlooked and rarely the focus of media attention was his quiet fight against mental illness.

It has been speculated, though he was never officially diagnosed, that he suffered from depression—and according to a Time Magazine profile on his life, twice attempted suicide in his youth. Later in life, just prior to his assignation it is reported that several members of his staff attempted to secure a psychiatric intervention for him. Theorizing about his mental health is not meant to be a critique or an attempt to discredit the awesome and inspiring actions of Dr. King, but rather to quell the incessant myth that those who suffer with mental illness are incapable of historic accomplishments.

Dr. King rarely spoke publicly regarding mental health, but when he did, like everything else he said, his words continue to resonate and create a lasting impact to this day. Yet, at firsthand, we don’t tend to associate his legacy with the fight against mental health stigmas, and towards an equalized and proactive mental health system.

But throughout his adulthood, Dr. King’s social and political successes ran parallel with his mental illness battle, yet the latter was only known by close friends and family members. Sadly, King experienced the same mental health stigmas currently faced by countless people in the United States. He feared his political and social justice accomplishments would be overshadowed or discredited if news of his struggle with mental health came to light. Despite these personal and professional obstacles, Rev. King never altered his convictions, or faltered from his objectives. If anything, he believed that his ‘maladjustment’, a term he used in a keynote speech for the American Psychological Association in 1967, strengthened his resolve to continue the fight for equality.

His struggle with mental illness was internalized, something those suffering from mental illness in the United States still experience on a daily basis.

The stigma and stereotype are still so persistent and tenacious that the open and honest discussion of mental illness remains taboo in some communities of color; who still face marginalization, bigotry and discrimination in our country. Stereotypes depicting people with mental illness as being dangerous, unpredictable, dramatic, overly sensitive, or generally incapable bullies many into silence. This fear of alienation from the community combined with a historically rational distrust of medical institutions and a disparaging lack of resources, results in communities that are less likely to seek needed care and are more likely to receive substandard care when treated.

Read more at Counseling.org.

Talking about mental health needs can be hard and, for Latinx populations, it’s a subject that has long been taboo. But there are efforts to change that and get people the help they need here in Arizona.

Information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website shows that 40.3% of Hispanic people experienced symptoms of depression, compared to 25.3% of white people.

But the conversation has been taboo, especially among Hispanic men.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Latinx populations face many barriers including language, lack of health insurance, and immigration status, just to name a few.

Doctor Martha Muñoz is a Valley psychologist who’s been working to destigmatize mental health needs in the Latino community for years.

“Getting a man here in therapy, for me is a challenge. You know, it’s a challenge,” she said. And she’s seen what can happen when people don’t address their emotional well-being.

Dr. Muñoz explained, “they self-medicate with, you know, drugs or alcohol. So, it’s a lot of addictive behaviors a lot because they don’t address the main problem.”

Dr. Muñoz is hosting free Spanish-language online workshops for anyone to attend, all in hopes of breaking the stigma and working toward a better mental health outlook in the community.

Read more at ABC15.com.

As Americans, we encounter diversity daily. While we continue to see some signs of progress, the 2021 LGBTQ Youth Mental Health Study by the Trevor Project noted that at least once in their lifetime, 75% of LGBTQ youth reported experiencing discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. No matter how much progress we make, discrimination in any form hurts and can have a grave impact on one’s mental health.

According to the Trevor Project study, lower suicide rates were reported for LGBTQ youth who had access to spaces that affirmed their gender identity and sexual orientation. The statistics are even more significant in the transgender and non-binary community where youth suicide rates were cut in half when pronouns were respected by the people they lived with compared to individuals whose pronouns were not respected by anyone with whom they lived.

Sometimes the only support that kids will experience is outside their home – at school and with friends. Therefore, it is important for schools to set the tone of acceptance. When we meet with schools, we ask administrators and teachers, “Do your students walk into your building and see themselves represented every day?” Kids cannot be what they do not see. If they see themselves in the curriculum, in the library, in the Pride flag that is flown year-round, their path to acceptance and reduced mental health crises increases.

In fact, the Trevor Project study noted that LGBTQ youth had lower rates of attempting suicide when they found their school to be LGBTQ-affirming.

The indisputable reality is that the LGBTQ community – and transgender and non-binary individuals even more so – are facing mental health concerns at an alarming rate. The benefits of something as simple as a sense of belonging is lifesaving.

Read more at LGBTQNation.com.

Researchers have long pointed to the importance of incorporating cultural practices into behavioral health care for Native Americans, but there is an ongoing struggle to ensure those services are accessible and affordable.

In past years, federal and state legislation aimed at increasing insurance coverage of mental health treatment has expanded the availability of Western services for many. But access to culturally responsive care and traditional healing remains limited. In the larger landscape of mental and behavioral health care, Indigenous communities face significant disparities.

Native Americans report experiencing serious psychological distress 2.5 times more than the general population, federal data show. And although overall suicide rates are similar to those of white people, there are key differences among certain age groups — with suicides among Native Americans ages 15 to 19 more than double that of white youth.

Traditional healing rituals have always been a part of Indigenous culture. Whereas Western medicine focuses on curing, often through the use of medication, Indigenous healing aims to reestablish harmony and balance – more akin, experts say, to “recovering one’s wholeness.”

Practices vary among tribes, but they typically include herbal remedies and ceremonies, such as smudging or sweat lodge gatherings, to heal and maintain mental, physical and spiritual health. And spiritual health is key, along with participation not only from the individual being treated but from loved ones or other tribal members.

Traditional services are free to Native Americans at facilities operated by the Indian Health Service, but supply can’t always keep up with demand at the chronically underfunded federal agency.

Read more at Tucson.com.

Travis Snyder has seen his fair share of combat, and he knows exactly how difficult it can be to re-enter society after spending time in a war zone.

The Michigan man is a marine veteran who served as a corporal in Afghanistan from 2017 until 2018. After retiring and returning back to the United States, he began struggling with his mental health — and he wasn’t the only one who felt this way. He watched his military friends battle PTSD and other challenges as well. In 2019, Travis lost one of his good friends and former suitemates to suicide. The loss opened his eyes to a tragic reality: Around 17 veterans die by suicide in the U.S. every single day. Travis became determined to increase awareness of this fact and has found ways to help veterans access mental health resources to reintegrate into civilian life after combat.

That August, Travis packed up his backpack and embarked on a trek that would take him all the way around Lake Michigan, a journey of 810 miles. He finished his first hike around the lake on October 6th 2019, just 42 days after he set out.

But one hike wasn’t enough. With a goal of promoting veteran suicide awareness, he teamed up with the non-profit Mission 22, an organization which provides veterans with mental health support and resources. With each hike he takes, Travis collects donations for them using Facebook.

He uses his open video forums as a chance to discuss difficult topics like suicide, refugees, and other potentially-painful yet necessary issues. Plus, the platform gives him a way to share videos and pictures from his journey.

Travis plans to continue his walks as long as it’s necessary to do so. He hopes his efforts lead to open and honest discussions around mental health and removing the stigma around suicide for his fellow veterans. He’s already planning another trek for 2023, perhaps around Lake Superior this time.

Read more at InspireMore.com.

Awareness of mental health care as a key part of holistic health is growing. Even so, a lack of access to proper care and the stigma that surrounds talking about our mental health remain. In particular, Black, Indigenous, and other persons of color – as well as LGBTQIA+ populations – face stigma, structural barriers, and other unique challenges to accessing quality mental health care. It’s crucial that we continue to highlight these struggles and recognize how programs are leveraging education, understanding and advocacy to expand quality mental health care to communities that have long been overlooked and underserved.

Those who are ready to talk about their mental health with a professional might be challenged to find a health care provider who understands their experiences and what it will take to address their needs.

Thankfully, several sectors of the U.S. health care system are working on expanding access to mental health resources to underserved populations. Successful mental health programs are rooted in the common threads of education, understanding, advocacy and support. For example, CVS Health’s Here4U program is a virtual peer-support group facilitated by a licensed clinician that can be tailored for specific populations such as young adults, parents and Black and LGBTQIA+ communities. As part of the program, participants can discuss life challenges, pressing issues, and events or changes at home with their peers while learning new skills to improve their mental well-being.

It’s not just about educating people experiencing mental health struggles, however. We must educate the clinicians treating patients as well, as they often play an essential role in helping Americans address their mental health. With this in mind, Aetna introduced a four-course continuing education series for behavioral health professionals to increase their cultural and linguistic competencies. Through training and education, these providers can better equip themselves to identify mental health risk factors and engage in proactive, personalized treatment for their patients.

Read more at USNews.com.