3 Powerful Ways HR Leaders Can Elevate Black Mental Health
Racism and related traumas are pervasive barriers to mental health, and racial microaggressions are correlated with depression. Here are three ways HR leaders can support Black employees and build a diverse, inclusive, and mentally healthy workplace.
The theme for this year’s Black History Month is Black Health and Wellness. This is a critical focus as we continue navigating a pandemic that has disproportionately affected Black communities and weighed heavily on Black healthcare professionals.
We were already on the brink of a mental health crisis before COVID-19 hit, and the pandemic layered on universal stressors including fear of contracting the virus, continual uncertainty, and managing remote work and remote school.
But the Black community is experiencing additional traumatic stressors, including:
Higher COVID rates and COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths
Systemic racism, personal experiences with racism, and the fear of retaliatory violence and police brutality
Pressure to “show up” and “be responsive” at work during protests and tragedies like the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor
Why Black mental health matters
Racism and related traumas are pervasive barriers to mental health, and racial microaggressions are correlated with depression.
Adult Black Americans are 20% more likely to report serious psychological distress than white adults, and only one in three receive the mental healthcare they need. When Black Americans do receive mental healthcare, it’s less likely to be evidence-based and culturally-competent care.
There’s also a strong stigma. One study shows that “63% of Black people believe that a mental health condition is a sign of personal weakness.”
HR leaders have an opportunity to help Black employees and their families overcome this stigma and get access to high-quality care from a provider who understands them completely.
It’s equally important to intentionally create a diverse, inclusive, and mentally healthy workplace where all employees have a strong sense of belonging. Here are three ways HR leaders can support Black employees and thoughtfully build that kind of culture.
