Understanding Minority Mental Health | YMyHealth

Emily Labutta is a licensed associate professional counselor at Attento Counseling in the Atlanta Metro Area. In this interview, she discusses the complex landscape of minority mental health, offering insights into the unique challenges faced by various communities and how to better support mental wellness across all populations.

How do you define minority mental health as a therapist?

Emily: Minority mental health is much broader than we give it credit for. It predominantly includes what you'd think of - people of color, racial minorities, ethnic minorities. But it also encompasses religious minorities, the LGBTQ+ two-spirit population, disabled people, and those with chronic illness living in a world set up for able bodies.

It can even include being in a bigger body in a world structured for thinner bodies. Think of anywhere where there is privilege - whether that's being cisgender, being the religious majority, or having an able body. Anywhere where you don't identify as what holds the privileged, you can think of that as minority mental health.

What distinguishes mental health challenges for people of minority backgrounds compared to those who aren't?

Two main things come to mind. First, there's the challenge of finding a therapist where you feel your experience is heard, seen, known, and valid. Therapy as a whole is a pretty white, cisgender, straight, woman-dominated profession. So, if you're looking for someone who understands your specific experience - say, a Black queer transgender man - that representation may be harder to find.

Second, there's the value in being understood by people who are different from you. It's not always about finding someone exactly like you, but rather someone who makes an effort to understand your unique perspective without trying to put themselves in your shoes.

What are some major misconceptions about minority mental health that you'd like to dispel?

The biggest misconception is treating mental health as purely an individual problem. We have this Western culture idea of individual responsibility, and we apply that same approach to minorities, saying "mental health is your problem - go seek help." But we don't look at the systems of oppression that create barriers.

Another major issue is that the DSM-5 - our diagnostic manual - has been primarily based on studies of white, cisgender, Western men. This means things get pathologized in minority populations that might actually be accurate, real, valid reactions to oppressive systems.

What unique challenges do racial and ethnic minorities face today?

They're caught in navigating how much is within their control versus how much is outside of them. There's this constant balancing act between acknowledging that discrimination exists - we know Black men receive harsher sentencing, queer populations are at higher risk for suicide - while also not living in a constant state of hypervigilance.

That hypervigilance is actually protective. The Black man who feels followed in a store probably is being followed. The woman who insists her doctor run tests again because she knows something is wrong - that's not just anxiety; that's protection against real discrimination. But living in that state is exhausting.

What does cultural stigma around mental health look like for women specifically?

Historically, women got diagnosed with "hysteria" or "wandering uterus" - often just for being women and not acting like men. Today, women are told they're "too sensitive" or "too emotional," but if they adapt to function in a patriarchal society, they're suddenly "too cold" or "rigid."

Women's mental health often involves creating space to be who they are unapologetically, then figuring out how to navigate systems that still discriminate. We know women are perceived as more aggressive when assertive, while men are seen as leadership material. Women who wear makeup to work generally make more money. So there's this constant question of how you want to play in an unfair system.

What are the mental health challenges specific to the LGBTQ+ community?

The challenges vary greatly - someone who's gay faces different issues than someone who's transgender. We've created some space for gay people, but we're still behind on accepting trans, non-binary, and gender-fluid individuals.

Key issues include finding affirming therapy, dealing with family acceptance or rejection, and facing potential homelessness, especially for teens. We know the first five years after coming out as transgender represent the highest risk period for suicidality among teens.

Religious trauma is another huge factor that goes deeper than just "my parents don't accept me." It involves growing up in high-control religions that tell you to discount your own intuition and outsource trust to church figures or deities outside yourself.

How do invisible illnesses fit into minority mental health?

When you have an invisible illness, you're dealing with that "just do it" mentality that's empowering if you're in an able body but extremely invalidating if you literally can't "just do it." Nobody can see what's affecting you, so when you say you can't do something or it's harder for you, there's often shame and blame.

We don't acknowledge all the invisible labor being done just to survive some days. Without seeing and acknowledging these struggles, we keep perpetuating the problem.

How is media consumption affecting minority mental health?

There's massive under-representation across all minority groups. When representation does exist, it's often tokenistic - one stereotypical character, sometimes not even played by someone from that community. We need to see authentic portrayals where people have agency and aren't just defined by their minority status.

The key is moving beyond stereotypes and tropes to show that we're all much less homogeneous than media would have us believe.

What role does social media play in minority mental health?

Social media actually provides tremendous benefits for minority mental health that I think get overlooked. If you're living in a small town where you don't see yourself represented, you can get online and connect with people who have similar experiences. This is especially valuable in health communities where people can ask, "Is this symptom normal? My doctor thinks it's in my head."

The downside is when these spaces become echo chambers focused only on discrimination and oppression. We need balance - acknowledging real systemic issues while also celebrating the positive aspects of our identities.

How can the public become more culturally competent in understanding minority mental health?

The most important thing is letting people define their own experiences. Yes, educate yourself - read books about what it's like to be queer in America, to be Black in America, to have an invisible illness. But understand that whatever you learn doesn't provide a script for whoever you might interact with.

Even when I interact with someone who shares an apparent minority with me, I ask: "What has your experience been like? What is life like for you?" We are all experts in our own lived experiences. Instead of telling people what their experience is like, listen to what it's actually like for them.

The goal is becoming aware that all of us are individual people with our own unique experiences, even within shared identity groups.

Want to hear more from Emily? Check out the YMyHealth podcast!

Understanding Minority Mental Health: A Q&A with Emily Labutta