Blog, podcast stress need to address minority mental health

An American Hospital Association blog describes how Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health is addressing minority mental health. The system uses Belonging Circles to foster an inclusive environment for those who share a common identity and allyship to support belonging. Writing during Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, the authors stress the importance of truly seeing each other, creating psychological safety through belonging and inclusion, and leveraging racial inequities as a catalyst for innovation and justice. An AHA podcast describes how Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health in Pa. is improving access to quality mental and physical health services for people of color and people with severe or chronic mental illnesses. The system uses cultural competency training, medical interpreter services and integration of mental and physical health services. (AHA blog article, 7/19/24)