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Week 5 Assignment Scholarly Paper
Michelle Lynn
Walden University
HUMN 6000-1
Instructor Nerissa Strong
March 30, 2025
The Mental Health Challenges
In terms of public health, mental health crises emerging among marginalized youth post-COVID-19 pandemic have become quite significant. Such populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ and others, suffer from different and intensified challenges, all negatively affecting their emotional and psychological well-being. , as highlighted by Murthy (2022), taking note of how the pandemic has worsened pre-existing disparities and clearly showing how these marginalized communities have suffered disproportionately from mental health impacts. These have been brought about by a combination of factors such as economic instability, systemic racism, social isolation, and discrimination, all contributing to increases in anxiety, depression, and trauma. Marginalized youth are, furthermore, faced with barriers to accessing mental health care. This could probably be why no appropriate facilities serve this group. The proposed paper will address the disparities in mental health care for marginalized youth, looking into factors behind the widening gap and the mitigation measures around such issues.
The Problem of Mental Health Disparities
Factors Contributing to the Mental Health Challenges
i.
Socio-economic Trends, Trauma, and Discrimination
Socio-economic trends or disturbances, trauma, and discrimination enter into the lives of marginalized youth, thereby posing even more risks to their mental health. Murthy (2022) mentions that racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by grief, trauma, and systemic violence. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic-related losses and grief, these groups were again significantly affected, as research has shown that the risks of death in the family were up to 4.5 times higher for those belonging to these groups than for their non-Hispanic White peers.
ii.
Disapproval from the Family and Absence of the Social Support
Besides unique stressors like discrimination and harassment, those who engage in LGBTQ+ lifestyles also deal with disapproval from family and lack of social support: such issues can embed thicker layers into their mental capital struggles (Wolff et al., 2023). Culturally competent mental health care services for these groups seem few and far between, only heightening the difficulties posed by these very issues. Besides, Nunez-Rivera (2023) pointed out that although these risks have increased, the access to specific mental health services for LGBTQ+ persons remains very limited, with a minority of the LGBTQ+ population availing of such services due to geographical and systemic barriers.
Barriers to Mental Health Access
a.
Absence of Specific Services for Mental Healthcare
This access to specialized mental health services is poor among marginalized youth despite the increasing demand. According to Nunez-Rivera (2023), those identifying under the LGBTQ+ umbrella face additional challenges in accessing care because of the absence of specific services for their mental health care. Culturally competent and trained providers to serve marginalized communities are not available in many places. Such barriers in the system disallow these youth from receiving proper emotional help from their families Wolff et al. (2023). The effects can negatively affect healthy mental functioning and development for years. Access to particular services becomes more difficult due to the stigma attached to mental health care in underprivileged communities.
b.
The Absence of the Insurance Coverage
Insurance coverage, as it stands, is unfortunately denying many poor youth who want to seek treatment or continue to go for it. This deprives them of the chance to take care of their psychological problems. In line with what Al-Tamimi and Leavey (2021) have stated, community-based interventions are the best solutions for areas with care deprivation that have conflict-torn spaces or are low-income countries.
Solutions to Address the Mental Health Disparities
a)
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC)
The incorporation of trauma-informed care (TIC) into mental health services represents a very equitable means by which to resolve these disparities. It emphasizes the creation of a context of maximum safety, trust, and support for people who have undergone trauma. The proposals by Goldstein et al. (2024) is that TIC is invaluable tool towards enhancement of the outcomes with marginalized youth. It helps in tackling the underlying causes of problems associated with trauma and discrimination in relation to psychiatric health. The development of TIC-supported spaces helps in the reduction of risk of re-traumatization while supporting suitable care access. The whole promising approach creates services that are just more attuned to the needs of the historically marginalized and would foster better engagement of these individuals within the mainstream mental health services themselves. The argument of the authors is that successful implementation of TIC demands for clarity on definitions, settings, and staining of staff and provides towards development of a conducive environments for the healing process.
b)
The Expanding Access to Telepsychiatry and Community-Based Measures
Telepsychiatry and community-based interventions to make mental health services salient are another avenue to facilitating access for deserving persons. According to Mongelli et al. (2020), telepsychiatry is a good remedy to circumvent geographical and logistical barriers to care for the youth living in rural or underserved settings. The emphasis on remote care means these youths can consult their mental health professionals unencumbered by the obstacles of travel, stigma, or an absence of local providers. In preserving a climate of neighborliness and connection within the familiar environment, community-based interventions can arguably enhance mental health outcomes. These focused interventions thus enhance accessibility and responsiveness to the mental health needs of marginalized youth. As mentioned by Al-Tamimi and Leavey (2021), community-based interventions have already been successful in addressing the mental health needs of low-resourced youth living in conflict areas present in those countries. Consequently, they offer the required help a culturally suitable process, as well as being readily accessible.
Conclusions
Preexisting aggravations to unequal mental health conditions among marginalized youth existing in the face another social and economic complexion, discrimination, and access to care. All were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, which subjected people in marginalized communities to further trauma and stress. Trauma-informed care as an intervention, coupled with extended telepsychiatry services, is encouraging in closing existing gaps by increasing access to culturally competent care. Limiting access to mental health services for marginalized youth with intentionality in settings that support these groups helps lessen gaps in care and assure positive outcomes for all youth, regardless of differing backgrounds. Continued efforts in alleviating challenges in this connection should guarantee improved outcomes in mental health for the communities in question.
References
Al-Tamimi, S. A. G. A., & Leavey, G. (2021). Community-Based Interventions for the Treatment and Management of Conflict-Related Trauma in Low-Middle Income, Conflict-Affected Countries: a Realist Review.
Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma,
15(2).
Berring, L. L., Holm, T., Hansen, J. P., Delcomyn, C. L., Søndergaard, R., & Hvidhjelm, J. (2024). Implementing Trauma-Informed Care—Settings, Definitions, Interventions, Measures, and Implementation across Settings: A Scoping Review.
Healthcare,
12(9), 908.
Goldstein, E., Chokshi, B., Melendez-Torres, G., Rios, A., Jelley, M., & Lewis-O’Connor, A. (2024). Effectiveness of Trauma-Informed Care Implementation in Health Care Settings: Systematic Review of Reviews and Realist Synthesis.
The Permanente Journal,
28(1), 135–150.
Mongelli, F., Georgakopoulos, P., & Pato, M. T. (2020). Challenges and opportunities to meet the mental health needs of underserved and disenfranchised populations in the united states.
Focus,
18(1), 16–24.
Murthy, V. H. (2022). The Mental Health of Minority and Marginalized Young People: An Opportunity for Action.
Public Health Reports,
137(4), 003335492211023.
Nunez-Rivera, S. (2023).
CSUSB ScholarWorks CSUSB ScholarWorks Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations Office of Graduate Studies 5-2023 BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES THAT LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS FACE BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES THAT LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS FACE WHEN ACQUIRING MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES. WHEN ACQUIRING MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
Wolff, J. M., Anderson, R., & Mickelson, K. (2023). LGBTQ+ Stress and Trauma Within the DSM-5: A Case Study Adaptation of the UConn Racial/Ethnic Stress and Trauma Survey (UnRESTS).
The Behavior Therapist,
46(4), 165.
