Effects of Discrimination on Mental Health and Well-Being

07.26.2021 | 4 min read

Ms. Hurd is the vice president, Inclusion and Diversity and Chief Diversity Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan where she is responsible for leading and executing the corporate inclusion and diversity strategy for Blue Cross and its subsidiaries and shaping a culture of inclusion. She also leads the Office of Health and Health Care Disparities with a vision of Better Health for All which focuses on achieving health equity in the delivery of, quality and access to care. Ms. Hurd facilitates the enterprise’s Diversity Leadership Councils, Physician Diversity Council and oversees diversity and cultural competency learning opportunities for employees, Inclusion and Diversity coaching programs, 15 employee resource networks and the integration of an inclusion and diversity lens in providing service to members and customers. She currently represents Blue Cross on the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in April 2020. She serves on the BCBS Health Equity Champions Committee and the national Health Care Transformation Task Force Health Equity Advisory Group. Hurd is a recipient of the national DentaQuest 2020 Health Equity Heroes award which recognizes individuals working to achieve equity during this time of coronavirus. In 2021, she was also recognized as a Top 100 Diversity Officer by the National Diversity Council.

African American parents consoling their sad girl at home.

As a nation, America has turned its attention to issues of racial injustice and discrimination. It’s caused institutions at all levels to examine their practices and policies. But as this critical work is underway, communities of color and minorities are still living in systems rife with disparities and prejudice. While news coverage of extreme acts of racial discrimination, hate and violence has spurred action, at a personal level this heightened sense of awareness can heavily impact the mental health and well-being of individuals in these communities.

Impacts on Adults

Constant reminders of racism and discrimination can impact an individual’s mental health – no matter what their lived experience may be. Especially in the current 24/7 news cycle, the prevalence of videos and photos bearing witness to violence, injustice and acts of hate that exist in America today can be incredibly stressful and traumatizing. There’s also a degree of sadness and grief individuals can carry with them as a result. For example, the National Alliance on Mental Illness states Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress, such as sadness, hopelessness and feeling like everything is an effort. Here are some things to keep in mind about how adults might react:

Stress reactions to traumatic events depend upon the severity and may last from a few days to a few months, or longer.
Symptoms of a stress reaction are varied and can be physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral.

Taking a break from media coverage of current events and focusing on personal health and wellness may not feel like the most productive thing to do – but it’s a good first step to reducing stress and focusing on what to do next. Professional assistance from a counselor may be necessary to overcome powerful trauma.

Impacts on Children

Children live in the same world as adults – and they are experiencing the same emotions adults are feeling. Yet they don’t have the ability to cope with their emotions in the same way. The prevalence of social media in older children’s lives also makes them vulnerable to being overexposed to traumatic events in the media depicting acts of racism and aggression, which can have a severe negative impact on their mental health. For children, carrying chronic stress can lead to physical changes in their body that can cause inflammation – which puts them more at risk for chronic disease throughout the rest of their lives.

Impact on Physical Health

Mental health is directly tied to physical health. So as an individual’s mental health suffers, so will their sense of well-being. The body’s reaction to stress is a fight or flight reaction – which means if the body is experiencing stress over a long period of time, it will continue to operate in “lifesaving” mode. As a result, individuals with long-term stress might experience issues with the following bodily functions:

If stress continues over time, it could contribute to serious health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other issues including depression and anxiety. Seeking help from a licensed mental health provider to help individuals process their emotions tied to racial injustices is an important step to avoid long-term health problems from chronic stress. Find Help While members of minority communities may face barriers to accessing the treatment and care that they need, help is available. Individuals without insurance can access free or low-cost mental health services through Community Mental Health programs, Federally Qualified health Centers, free or low-cost care locations and Safety Net Clinics. For those with insurance, start by calling the number on the back of the insurance I.D. card to be connected to a mental health provider. William Beecroft, M.D., D.L.F.A.P.A., is a medical director of behavioral health at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Bridget Hurd is vice president of Inclusion & Diversity at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. More from MIBluesPerspectives:
- Immune system
- Digestive system
- Cardiovascular system
- Reproductive system
- Headaches
- Sleeplessness
- Sadness
- Anger
- Irritability
Tackling Barriers to Mental Health Care in Minority Communities
Institutional Bias and its Impacts on Health
Finding Mental Health Resources for Underserved Communities Photo credit: Getty Images