SAMHSA ADS Center
Promoting Mental Health and Addictions Recovery in Multicultural Communities
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How behavioral health problems are experienced, expressed, and treated often varies according to an individual’s age, gender, race, or ethnic background, as well as other cultural phenomena. Learning more about the unique needs of racial and ethnic minorities can help healthcare providers, policymakers, educators, and people with mental health and substance use disorders support recovery and reduce discrimination and social exclusion.
The ADS Center works to promote a fuller awareness and increase understanding by providing a broad range of educational materials to support public education and community outreach efforts in diverse communities throughout the Nation.
Supportive communities make a difference. Learn how your community can support people in recovery and make a difference, not only in their lives but in the overall strength, health, and wellness of your community.
Visit our Web site at http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov to check out the following examples of the valuable resources we offer to help promote social inclusion and support individuals in pursuing recovery and full participation within their own multicultural communities:
- Our four-part teleconference series at http://www.esi-bethesda.com/ADSmediafiles/4part_series.htm focuses on efforts to overcome stigma and discrimination and promote mental health recovery in African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latino communities. You may also be interested in our most recent teleconference, “Breaking the Poverty Cycle: Creating Social and Economic Opportunities,” now available in the archived training teleconference section at http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/teleconferences/archive/default.aspx.
- Stories that Heal at http://www.storiesthatheal.samhsa.gov/, a Web site developed as part of the What a Difference a Friend Makes campaign, is designed to raise awareness of mental health problems among young adults in the African American community. The recovery stories featured on this Web site can be downloaded for educational use at http://www.esi-bethesda.com/ADSmediafiles/4part_series.htm. Web sites and campaign materials developed for the Hispanic/Latino, Chinese American, and American Indian young adult communities can also be accessed from the What a Difference a Friend Makes campaign home page at http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov.
UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities, an organization working to address inequalities that exist in the current health system, is one of many resources for consumers, providers, and others interested in promoting health equity. Visit our Information by Topic: Culture section http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/topic/culture/organizations.aspx for this and other valuable resources. The Center’s report Building Partnerships: Conversations with Native Americans about Mental Health Needs and Community Strengths is available at http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/ctsc/area/engagement/documents/
NativeAmericanReportFinal.pdf and will soon be available on the ADS Center Web site.