Black people are far less likely to seek mental health care then other parts of the population. Statistics tell us that only about 25% of African Americans seek mental health treatment, compared to 40% of white Americans. Thinking intersectionally barriers to mental health equity may feel like they are stacking on top of each other. People have a wide variety of lived experience that influence their personal mental health. That being said, systemic inequalities and discrimination acts as a multiplier making it more difficult to find care and treatment.

As more light is shined on inequity and the social detriments of health, there is an increase in the ability of people to find care and treatement.

Definitions
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.