1. Mental Health Economics and African Americans
Darrell J. Gaskin, PhD
Associate Professor and Acting Chair African American Studies Department
University of Maryland, College Park
Research Associate
Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions

2. Acknowledgements Dr. De Lois Powell, Project Manager
Mr. Pierre E. Wright, Director
United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation
National Library of Medicine

3. Are there race disparities in mental health?
African Americans have lower rates of mental disorders than whites.
ECA s sample from Baltimore, St. Louis, Durham-Piedmont, LA and New Haven
NCS - nationally representative sample of 666 African Americans, 4498 Whites

4. Lifetime Prevalence of Selected Mental Disorder for Blacks and Whites from ECA

5. Lifetime Prevalence of Selected Mental Disorder for Blacks and Whites from NCS

6. Race Differences in Self Reported Mental Disorders
However, African Americans compared to White are more likely to report they suffer from seriously psychological distress.
Based on the K6 – Sadness, Nervousness, Restless, Hopeless, Everything an effort, Worthless over the past 30 days (Kessler et al 2003).

7. Percent of Adults Who Reported They Suffer from Serious Psychological Distress, by Race 2004-2005
Source: OMH website and CDC, Health United States, Table 61

8. Percent of Adults Who Reported They Suffer from Aspects of Serious Psychological Distress, by Race
Source: OMH website and CDC, Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: Table 14.

9. Relationship between Race and Serious Psychological Distress Is Related to Poverty Status, 2004-2005
Source: OMH website and CDC, Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: Table 14.

10. Disparities in Mental Healthcare Use
African Americans are less likely to use mental health services.
African Americans are more likely to depend on primary care physician and safety net providers instead of mental health specialists for care.
African Americans receive lower quality care.

11. Disparities in Treatment for Mental Health Problems, by Race
Source: OMH website and National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 229b & 231b (2005)
Health United States, Data table for Figure 36 ( ).

12. Percent of Adults With Major Depressive Episode Who Received Treatment for Depression, by Race 2004
Source: OMH website and 2006 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 93b.

13. Why are there Disparities in Mental Healthcare Use?
Provider/Prejudice Bias
Diagnosis Bias
Stigma
Patient Preferences
Mistrust
Poor Communication
Residential Segregation/Geographic Barriers
High Rates of Poverty
Lack of Health Insurance

14. African Americans and Hispanics Are Most Likely to Be Uninsured
Source: Table 6 CPS P60-233

15. Poverty Status by Race/Ethnicity
Source: Table 6 CPS P60-233

16. Mental illness is costly
Creates job-related problems
Lower productivity
Absenteeism
Lowers quality of life
Creates problem for children
Academic failure
Peer rejection

17. Contact Information
Darrell J. Gaskin, PhD
Associate Professor of Health Economics
Acting Chair, African American Studies Department
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
University of Maryland
2169 LeFrak Hall
College Park, Maryland 20742
(phone)
(fax)