Intersectionality, Mental Health, and Seeking Care
Intersectionality as a concept has become more widely known in recent years. It is a vital concept in contemporary discourse on social justice, identity, and inclusivity. Yet it has not yet reached the wider field of treatment and care in mental health. Coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, it acknowledges that individuals experience multiple layers of discrimination or privilege due to their intersecting identities, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and socioeconomic status. When applied to mental health, intersectionality offers a crucial framework for understanding how these diverse facets of identity shape individuals' well-being, how they experience the world at large, and with support and mental health care.
Understanding Intersectionality in Mental Health
Intersectionality underscores that each person's challenges and experiences are shaped by a unique amalgamation of social identities and structural factors. These identities intersect in ways that can layer and compound disadvantages or privileges, significantly influencing their mental health. Here are key aspects of intersectionality in mental health:
Identity and Experience:
Individuals with marginalized identities, including racial minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and people who are economically disadvantaged often encounter specific stressors that impact their mental health.
These intersecting identities contribute to distinct experiences of mental health issues, affecting how symptoms are experienced, understood, expressed, and treated.
Access to Resources:
Intersectionality plays a critical role in determining one’s access to mental health resources, such as culturally competent care and support networks.
Structural inequities based on race, gender, class, ability, and other factors can restrict access to quality care, exacerbating disparities in mental health outcomes.
Barriers to Care:
Discrimination and stigma associated with intersecting identities can deter individuals from seeking necessary mental health support.
Healthcare providers may lack knowledge of or sensitivity to the unique needs of diverse populations, further hindering access to effective care.
The Values of Intersectionality In Mental Health Care
Centering intersectionality in mental health practice is essential for several reasons:
Holistic Understanding:
Intersectionality encourages a nuanced understanding of individuals' lived experiences, recognizing how multiple identities intersect to enhance or impair mental health outcomes.
This approach enables mental health professionals to deliver individualized, effective care that meets the diverse needs of their clients.
Cultural Competence:
Culturally competent mental health care involves respecting and understanding the cultural, racial, ethnic, and other identities that shape clients' perspectives.
Integrating intersectional perspectives allows providers to be inclusive by offering interventions that are culturally relevant and responsive, enhancing the longevity of treatment efficacy.
Reducing Disparities:
Addressing mental health through an intersectional lens helps identify and mitigate disparities in access to care and treatment outcomes.
It promotes equity by confronting systemic barriers that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Empowerment and Advocacy:
Intersectionality empowers individuals and providers to advocate for inclusive policies and practices within mental health systems.
Community-driven initiatives prioritize the voices and needs of underserved populations, fostering empowerment, collective action, and a more balanced society.
Applying Intersectionality in Mental Health
Mental health professionals can integrate intersectionality into their practice through various approaches:
Cultural Humility: Continually educating oneself about diverse identities and experiences of those they serve, and remaining open to learning from clients.
Collaborative Care: Collaborating with clients to understand how their intersecting identities influence their mental health and treatment preferences.
Anti-Oppressive Practices: Challenging stereotypes, biases, and systemic injustices that perpetuate mental health disparities.
Advocacy: Advocating for policies and resources that ensure equitable access to mental health care for all individuals, regardless of identity, on local, statewide, or national levels.
Conclusion
Intersectionality provides a vital framework for comprehending the intricate interplay between social identities and mental health. By embracing intersectionality, mental health professionals can offer more inclusive, effective, and culturally competent care. Prioritizing intersectionality not only enhances individual treatment outcomes but also advances equity and social justice within mental health systems, improving our communities in infinite ways.
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About the Author
Sara Walter Shihdanian (she/they) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in trauma and gender + transition, providing virtual psychotherapy in Washington state. Her extensive training and unique expertise allows her to support clients who are ready for accelerated and lasting change.