Closing the Mental Health Care Gap for Black Teens

<div class="p-pdf_viewer_thumbnail"> <div data-page-number="1"> </div> </div> <div id="pdf_viewer" class="p-pdf_viewer__content"> <div class="p-pdf_iframe__page" aria-label="Page 1" data-page-number="1"> <div class="textLayer"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">In the face of overwhelming demand for behavioral health services, the</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">unmet needs of one group stands out: Black and brown teenagers.</span></div> <div class="textLayer"> </div> <div class="textLayer"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">One reason they’re not getting the care they need is the shortage of child</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">and adolescent mental health providers in the U.S. — particularly providers</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">of color. Making matters worse are the racial stereotypes that play out in</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">how Black and brown teens are perceived by school officials, health care</span> <span dir="ltr" role= "presentation">providers, and some others in their communities.</span></div> <div class="textLayer"><br role="presentation" /> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">On the latest episode of</span> <em><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">The Dose</span></em><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">, Kevin Simon, M.D., a psychiatrist at</span> <span dir="ltr" role= "presentation">Boston Children’s Hospital and Commonwealth Fund Fellow in Minority</span> <span dir="ltr" role= "presentation">Health Policy at Harvard University, talks about how to address the problem.</span></div> <div class="textLayer"> </div> <div class="textLayer"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation">In the long term, we need to diversify the mental health provider workforce,</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">he says. But for now, providers currently practicing can work with families,</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">teachers, and others to strengthen the system. They can demonstrate</span> <span dir="ltr" role="presentation">cultural humility and express