The Impact of Racism on Physical and Mental Well-being
In the United States, structural, cultural, and individual-level racism significantly contribute to persistent health disparities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. These disparities are evident across various conditions, including cardiovascular disease, mental health disorders, obesity, hypertension, alcohol use and misuse, engaging in high-risk behaviors, poorer sleep, inflammation, cortisol dysregulation, and more.
Structural racism, rooted in historical and ongoing systems, policies, and practices, disadvantages BIPOC communities in numerous ways. One key impact is inadequate access to care, particularly for survivors of human trafficking in regions like the Midwest, where services are significantly limited. Lack of insurance, inability to pay for treatment, and fewer treatment facilities in BIPOC neighborhoods further restrict access.
Maternal health disparities are another concerning aspect. The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries, with Black women three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Mental health, often overlooked, is the leading cause of these deaths—particularly suicide and opioid overdose.
Cultural racism, encompassing societal beliefs, norms, and stereotypes, also plays a significant role. Stigma and stigma internalization can lead to underuse of mental health services, while the absence of visible role models or leadership in healthcare and public policy reinforces feelings of exclusion.
Individual-level racism, involving personal discrimination, bias, or microaggressions, is prevalent within healthcare settings. Healthcare provider bias can manifest as victim blaming, adultification, criminalization, or simple invisibility of BIPOC survivors, reducing trust and deterring help-seeking.
These levels of racism do not operate in isolation—they intersect and compound. Experiences of racism at one level can amplify harms at another, leading to cumulative and generational health disadvantages. The chronic stress and trauma from racism increase vulnerability to mental health disorders and substance use as coping mechanisms.
Addressing these disparities requires multi-level interventions, including culturally responsive care, anti-racist training for healthcare providers, and community partnership to ensure solutions are grounded in lived experience and cultural relevance. Discussing racist experiences with others can help process feelings of distress after racial trauma and stress, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).
It's essential to acknowledge that among BIPOC of middle and upper socioeconomic status, the effects of racism on mental and physical health persist. Social activism can serve as a protective factor for mental health among certain ethnic groups, but more research is needed to understand the disparities in activism as a coping mechanism for different ethnic groups.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted these disparities, with BIPOC in the United States experiencing higher rates of hospitalization and death than White populations. Reduced access to housing, employment, and mortgage lending due to low socioeconomic status can adversely affect mental health and increase feelings of depression, stress, and anxiety.
In conclusion, it is crucial to address the impact of racism on the physical and mental health of BIPOC populations in the United States. These disparities are preventable and demand targeted, equity-driven, culturally competent responses at every level of society and healthcare.
- Chronic stress and trauma from racism can increase vulnerability to mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.
- HIV, colitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and other multi-faceted diseases can have worse outcomes in BIPOC communities due to structural, cultural, and individual-level racism.
- Obesity and type 2 diabetes, which are associated with dry inflammation and disease, are prevalent among BIPOC communities, where access to health-and-wellness resources is limited.
- Emotional health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are more common in BIPOC communities due to experiences of racism, lack of mental health service use, and cultural stigma.
- AQ, a predictive test for Alzheimer's disease, may have less accurate results in BIPOC populations due to potential racial and cultural biases in testing methods.
- Hepatitis, a liver disease, disproportionately affects BIPOC communities as a result of structural, cultural, and individual-level racism.
- Macular degeneration, a sight-robbing eye condition, can be exacerbated due to reduced access to quality healthcare in BIPOC neighborhoods.
- Science and research must prioritize NSCLC, a type of cancer, to understand its prevalence and treatment outcomes in BIPOC communities.
- Cultural differences may impact perceptions and responses to mental health disorders, necessitating the need for culturally competent care and mental health resources.
- Diabetes, a chronic disease, intersects with structural, cultural, and individual-level racism, leading to poorer health outcomes and increased risk of complications.
- Across the United States, mental health services and support are unequally distributed, exacerbating mental-health disparities in BIPOC communities.
- In the battle against racism, understanding the role of cultural and individual-level racism is essential in developing effective resources to support BIPOC communities and improve overall health.
