Closing the Mental Health Care Gap for Black Teens

In the face of overwhelming demand for behavioral health services, the unmet needs of one group stands out: Black and brown teenagers. One reason they're not getting the care they need is the shortage of child and adolescent mental health providers in the U.S. — particularly providers of color. Making matters worse are the racial stereotypes that play out in how Black and brown teens are perceived by school officials, health care providers, and some others in their communities. On the latest episode of The Dose, Kevin Simon, M.D., a psychiatrist at Boston Children's Hospital and Commonwealth Fund Fellow in Minority Health Policy at Harvard University, talks about how to address the problem. In the long term, we need to diversify the mental health provider workforce, he says. But for now, providers currently practicing can work with families, teachers, and others to strengthen the system. They can demonstrate cultural humility and express genuine curiosity in the lived experiences of Black and brown youth.