Resources on Mental Health Disparities

  • NIMH -- Minority Health & Mental Health Disparities Program
  • SAMHSA -- helpful information on health disparities
  • Center for Mental Health Disparities at the University of Louisville

CDPHE's 2013 Report on Racial & Ethnic Health Disparities in Colorado
05 Mental Health and Substance Abuse

 ■ LGBQ teens are at higher risk than their heterosexual peers for suicide attempts and select factors associated with suicide. 

Thirty-seven percent of LGBQ students, grades 9-12 in Boulder County reported binge drinking, yet only 24 percent of heterosexual students did so. Over half (55 percent) of LGBQ students felt sad or hopeless, compared to less than a quarter (22 percent) of heterosexual students.

 LGBQ students were almost twice as likely to be harassed on school property (52 percent) compared with heterosexual students (27 percent). Nearly one third (32 percent) of LGBQ students attempted suicide, compared with only 4 percent of heterosexual students.

■ There are no significant differences in the rate of binge drinking, suicide attempts, feeling sad or hopeless, or being bullied on school property among students, grade 9-12, by race/ethnicity.

■ Less than half of Asian/Pacific Islander mothers reported that a health care provider talked to them about what to do if they felt depressed during pregnancy or after delivery, compared with three quarters of White and Hispanic/Latino mothers.

■ African American/Black adults are half as likely (8 percent) to binge drink compared with White (16 percent) and Hispanic/Latino adults (15 percent).

http://www.chd.dphe.state.co.us/topics.aspx?q=Health_Disparities
Val's Take
     CDPHE has some great data, and they are willing to answer specific questions.

       We thought the insights on the LGBQ community were great and much needed.

        As many unfortunately know, young people from the LGBQ community make up a tragic number of our homeless young people.

        We think mental health, race, ethnicity, and criminal justice involvement need to be addressed in Colorado and we have submitted a question to CDPHE.