Magellan Healthcare, the behavioral and specialty healthcare segment of Magellan Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGLN), announced activities in support of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month in July. Historically known as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, some organizations, including Magellan, have replaced the terminology “minority” with BIPOC for its inclusivity and to distinguish the experiences of diverse groups of people.
During July, Magellan will host the following virtual events focused on BIPOC mental health for adults and youth:
Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. ET: Join the Magellan Healthcare webinar, “Understanding and overcoming unique issues for BIPOC mental health” with Magellan’s medical directors, Rakel Beall-Wilkins, MD, MPH, psychiatrist, and Misty Tu, MD, psychiatrist. Visit here for more information and free registration.
Thursday, July 22, 2021 and the fourth Thursday of every month from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. ET: Join the Stay Home for MY LIFE (Magellan Youth Leaders Inspiring Future Empowerment) virtual youth fest. The July event will focus on BIPOC mental health. Take part in this fun and inspirational event for youth who have experience with mental health, substance use, juvenile justice and foster care-related issues.
Studies show that among people with any mental illness in 2015, 22% of Asian people and 31% of African American and Hispanic people received treatment, compared to 48% of White people.1 Diverse ethnic/racial group members’ access to treatment is impacted by a lack of insurance or underinsurance, mental illness stigma, a lack of diversity and cultural competence among mental healthcare providers, language barriers and distrust in the healthcare system.
“Magellan is sensitive to the unique struggles of BIPOC groups that can impact mental health,” said Matthew Miller, senior vice president, behavioral health, Magellan Healthcare. “We care deeply about doing our part to increase access to mental/behavioral health services for BIPOC groups through awareness campaigns in July and throughout the year, and network expansion initiatives to increase the availability of providers with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.”
“Stigma remains a very prominent barrier to seeking care for many ethnic minorities,” said Rakel Beall-Wilkins, MD, MPH, medical director, Magellan Healthcare. “In some cases, individuals may fear judgment, mockery, maltreatment or discrimination due to their mental illness, while others may simply lack adequate information about the mental health field due to relatively less cultural reliance on these modalities within certain ethnic groups.”
Additional Mental Health Support Resources
Magellan Healthcare has several resources available to all individuals, especially those who may be feeling stress or anxiety during these unfamiliar and increasingly polarized times:
- Visit Magellanhealthcare.com/BIPOC-MH for updates on Magellan events, downloads and other resources for BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month.
- Follow Magellan Healthcare on LinkedIn, Twitter and our MY LIFE Facebook page for more information and tools.
- Visit the Magellan Health Insights blog for posts throughout BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month in July.
Magellan Healthcare, Inc., the healthcare business unit of Magellan Health, Inc., offers solutions for complex conditions in the areas of behavioral health and medical specialty treatment. Magellan Healthcare serves commercial health plans, employers, state and local governments, and the Federal government, including the Department of Defense. For more information, visit MagellanHealthcare.com.
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