NR 607 Week 5 Assignment_Mental Health Advocacy Infographic - Metnal Health Equity Matters

BACKGROUND CURRENT CHALLENGES BIPOC Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are essential in mental health care because culture, race, g*/ ethnicity, language, socioecomonic status, and discrimination can influence how individuals culturally responsive servi Historical Blac1, Indigenous, and other people of color understand mental illness. seek help, and mistreatment and discrimination may contribute to experience barriers including limited insurance respond to treatment. Culturally fecponsiva ”W W* distrust and delayed kelp-seeking. Provider bias.and coverage, high beatment costs, transportation care can improve communication, trust, cuhuraf differences may elso contribute to difficuhfes, provider shortages, language barriers, diagnostic accuracy, treatment engagement, misunderstanding, underdiagnosis. or inappropriate stigma, and limited and outcomes (CoynaBaasley et al., 2023}. , . diagnosis (C@yne-Beasley et at., 2023). IMPACT OFLEGISUTIOE B£EEFITS OF L£GISLATI0F Legislation can reduce disparities by expanding insurance coverage, community For BIPOC patients, legislation could increase mental kealth services, telepsychiatryi access to early intervention, aflbrdable servioes, cukurally appmpriate services, and workforce culturally responsive treatment, and diverse clinicians. diversity. The Memal Health Pañty and Addiction For healthcare providers, it can Equity Act (MHPAEA} requires comparaBe increase workforce diversity, training, and coverage for merKal health/substance uce community resources. and medical/surgical services, reducing insurance-related For society, reducing untreated mental disparities (Rapfogel, illness could decrease hospitalization, 2022}. Legislation can address systemic emergency care, homelessness, disability, and barriers that cannot be corracted solely incarceration. through individual provider behavior CURRENT PROPOSEIF ¢ALL T0A¢TI0N 0R ¥ATl0NALLEGlSLkTl0N LOCAL Healtficere professionals, students, patients, Th Pursuing 6quity In Mental Heslth Act, families, and communities can advocate by: S. 1448/H.R. 2904,119th Corgress f2g25- 2026) Contacting elected representatives Is proposed k+glslation designed to reduce Supporting mental6ealth equity legislation rnemal heelth dispalt s among racial and Educating communities ethnic minarity populations, particubrly Promoting cukuretly appropriate care youth. implications for BIPOC populaztione: PMHNPS have an important edvocacy role. If enacted, the legislation could increase Clinical practice addresses one patient at culturally msponsive resources, a time, whila legislative advocacy can address strengthen research on disparities, improve mental stn«cturaI barriers affecting entire populations. heakh literacy, and support earlier treatment in underserved communities (U.S. Congress, 2025\