Racial Disparities in Mental Health Treatment: How Indiana Misses the Mark in Providing Accessible and Quality Treatment Amidst the Coronavavirus Pandemic

Abstract

Doctors, organizations, and citizens have expressed the importance of mental health, equating its significance to physical health. Despite the numerous conversations about mental health, treatment continues to fall short. This is especially the case for people of color. People of color are at a significant disadvantage in terms of access to quality mental health treatment. Living in poverty, lacking access to health insurance coverage, and discrimination by providers are just a few examples of how people of color struggle to receive quality mental health treatment. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated people of color’s limited access to mental health care. While some providers have offered telemedicine as an alternative to in-person mental health treatment, this is not an accessible option for everyone. Those living in low-income households may lack the required technology to access telemedicine, or the providers within a person’s community