Mental Health in Racial Minorities
Disciplines
Public Health
Abstract (300 words maximum)
This study will examine the primary mental health diagnoses and race of individuals across the United States in the year of 2020. This data was collected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) from both MH-TEDs and MH-CLD to compile accurate data. The dataset sample size consists of 6,945,521 participants. The dataset contained over 43 different variables, but due to the significant role that race continues to play in contemporary culture, we were especially interested in examining the connection between race and mental health. Racial minorities have more risks factors and social determinants that can negatively impact their mental health. Racial minorities are most affected by economic status, education, healthcare access, discrimination, and racism making it more difficult for them to take care of their mental health. The majority has better access and does not face as much discrimination when seeking mental health care. Our research question is whether there is a significant difference between mental health diagnosis in racial minorities compared to the racial majority. The primary variables we are focusing on are: Mental health diagnosis (MH1) which is our dependent variable and racial minorities which is our independent variable. MH1 contained 13 values, we recoded this variable into four values, depressive disorder, schizophrenic disorder, bipolar disorder, and alcohol/substance abuse disorder. We also recoded our race variable into whether the individual was a minority or non-minority. The alternative variables we chose in this study are education, age, and sex. We chose these variables because they represent the social determinants that can detrimentally impact racial minorities mental health and vice versa. We plan to use the variables selected to support our hypothesis that racial minorities have more primary mental health diagnoses compared to the racial majority.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
Other
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Kevin Gittner
Mental Health in Racial Minorities
This study will examine the primary mental health diagnoses and race of individuals across the United States in the year of 2020. This data was collected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) from both MH-TEDs and MH-CLD to compile accurate data. The dataset sample size consists of 6,945,521 participants. The dataset contained over 43 different variables, but due to the significant role that race continues to play in contemporary culture, we were especially interested in examining the connection between race and mental health. Racial minorities have more risks factors and social determinants that can negatively impact their mental health. Racial minorities are most affected by economic status, education, healthcare access, discrimination, and racism making it more difficult for them to take care of their mental health. The majority has better access and does not face as much discrimination when seeking mental health care. Our research question is whether there is a significant difference between mental health diagnosis in racial minorities compared to the racial majority. The primary variables we are focusing on are: Mental health diagnosis (MH1) which is our dependent variable and racial minorities which is our independent variable. MH1 contained 13 values, we recoded this variable into four values, depressive disorder, schizophrenic disorder, bipolar disorder, and alcohol/substance abuse disorder. We also recoded our race variable into whether the individual was a minority or non-minority. The alternative variables we chose in this study are education, age, and sex. We chose these variables because they represent the social determinants that can detrimentally impact racial minorities mental health and vice versa. We plan to use the variables selected to support our hypothesis that racial minorities have more primary mental health diagnoses compared to the racial majority.