Addressing Health Equity and Racial Justice
Jun 30, 2023
The National Council acknowledges that many of our country’s institutions were founded upon and continue to perpetuate systemic racism. Our health care system is no exception. It is rife with less obvious but deeply insidious examples of these inequities.
We know that eliminating disparities will improve individual and community health, which is why we must continue to address the behavioral health disparities rooted in systemic racism and support our members as they seek to improve health care access in their communities.
To help you address racial inequities and the associated stigmas that lead to persistent behavioral health disparities — and to ensure you have the tools to support your patients and providers — we compiled this directory of internal and external resources and learning opportunities.
Please note: We will continue to update this webpage as new information and tools become available to better serve you and your organization.
Background
Tools & Resources
Discover these learning opportunities:
- Discover how our Consulting Team can help you achieve your health equity goals
- Enjoy our monthly Social Justice Leadership Academy Learning Series events
- Join our Interest Groups to support underrepresented populations
- Learn more about our Advancing Health Equity through Integrated Care and Clinical Practice ECHO learning opportunity
- Lend your voice in support of mental health and substance use advocacy
- Receive our weekly Capital Connector newsletter to stay informed of health care legislation
- Visit our webinar page to attend future webinars about minority mental health
View our publications and toolkits:
- Addressing Disparities in Access and Utilization of Mental Health and Substance Use Services Among Blacks and African Americans: Solutions from Community Stakeholders
- Access for Everyone: A Toolkit for Addressing Health Equity and Racial Justice within Integrated Care Settings
- Social Justice Leadership Academy Workbook
- Suicide in U.S. Black and African American Communities
- Training Public Safety to Prevent Overdose in BIPOC Communities
Enjoy our virtual learning products:
- Check out our library of virtual learning events and videos
- National Council Conversations: Episode 3 – DEI in the Workplace
- Perception is Everything: The Impact of Implicit Bias in Mental Health & Addictions
- Watch Conversations on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with the Medical Director Institute, our new video series
Original Content
Read our BH365 blog posts:
- Caring for Black Adults with Serious Mental Illness
- During Black History Month, Let’s Commit Ourselves to Improving the Mental Health of Black Americans
- Furthering the Wellbeing of BIPOC through Integrated Care
- Health Equity Remains Elusive, But These Strategies Will Help
- Moving Forward this Black History Month – Setting Youth Up for Success
- Stigma Regarding Mental Illness among People of Color
- Trauma, Race and the Perils of COVID-19: A Call to Foster Community Resilience
- Turning COVID-19 Challenges into Opportunities: Tele-behavioral Health within Latino Communities
- We Aren’t Doing Enough to Help AAPI Youth
- We Need More Than Inclusion: Reframing Engagement to Foster Diversity and Equity
Read our Mental Health First Aid blog posts:
- Addressing Increasing Suicide Rates in the Black Community: How You Can Help
- Black Mental Health Matters: A Resource Guide
- Four Ways Culture Impacts Mental Health
- Five Ways to Be More Culturally Aware
- Five Ways to Support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as a First Aider
- Incorporating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging into Mental Health First Aid
- Providing Mental Health First Aid to LGBTQ+ Communities
- Supporting the Black Community as a Mental Health First Aider
- Supporting Minority Mental Health in the Workplace
- The Impact of COVID-19 on Minority Mental Health
- Understand Workplace Concerns of Black Employees
Webinar Recordings
Revisit out webinars:
- Recruitment and Retention of African American Men in the Mental Health and Substance Use Workforce
- Addressing Diversity, Equity and Engagement in Organizational Structure
- Addressing OUD in BIPOC Communities: Treatment and Recovery for African American Communities (Part 1)
- Addressing OUD in BIPOC Communities: Treatment and Recovery for Hispanic/Latino Populations (Part 2)
- Addressing OUD in BIPOC Communities: Treatment and Recovery for Native American Populations (Part 3)
- Addressing Trauma, Racism and Bias in Behavioral Health Service Delivery (Part 1)
- Addressing Trauma, Racism and Bias in Behavioral Health Service Delivery (Part 2)
- Advancing Health Equity Starts with Us
- Breaking Down Health Literacy, Cultural and Linguistic Barriers in Integrated Care Settings
- CoE-IHS Office Hour: Improving the Workforce through Diversity, Equity and Belonging Innovations
- CoE-IHS Office Hour: Integrated Care Strategies to Reduce Barriers to Substance Use Treatment among Communities of Color
- CoE-IHS Office Hour: Providing Integrated Care Services & Advancing Health Equity for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Establishing Culturally Centered Peer Support Services
- Furthering the Wellbeing of Black, Indigenous and People of Color through Integrated Care
- Health Equity and COVID-19 – Addressing the Disproportionate Impact
- Health Equity in Perinatal Health Office Hours
- Integrating Racial Equity and Mental Wellbeing in Tobacco Cessation
- Providing Affirming and Supportive Care to Transgender Individuals in Integrated Care Settings
- Providing Inclusive and Integrated Services to LGBTQ+ Individuals
- Promoting Organizational and Self-care Strategies for African Americans
- Racial Equity and Social Justice in Integrated Care Settings
- Resilience-oriented Strategies to Promote Healing around Historical and Contemporary Racial Inequities
- Returning to the Office? Equitable Considerations and Implications
- Strategies to Support Wellbeing and Retention of BIPOC Staff
- Structural and Systemic Biases Webinar Recording – SJLA Learning Series May 2022
- Supporting Leadership Development among BIPOC Staff
- Understanding Black and African American Experiences in Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Services
- Why and How Peer Services Improve Health and Wellness of People with Mental Illness
- Workforce Shortages and Impact on Providers and Staff Who are BIPOC or Caregivers
Other Resources
Take advantage of these external resources:
- Civil Rights and Social Justice COVID-19 Series (American Bar Association)
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Framework (Innovative Growth Solutions)
- Implicit Bias Module Series (Kiran Institute for the Study of Race)
- Racial Equity Toolkit (Government Alliance on Race and Equity)
- Racism and Anti-racism in America (University of Michigan)
Need Support? Turn to Our Experts.
Our seasoned health equity experts are committed to promoting healing and resilience in your practice, for your staff and for the communities you serve. The National Council can provide direct training and technical assistance to providers and key stakeholders on topics such as:
- Organizational infrastructure and resilience support around climate, culture and hiring.
- Understanding systemic inequity and ways to integrate change into your organization.
- Trauma-informed Resilience-oriented (TIRO) leadership and supervision with a racial justice lens.
- Understanding and assessing social determinants of health.