Advocacy for mental health care is critical to wellness and exposes the need for adequate, fair, and compassionate care. Today’s pandemic environment has revealed a new population of mental health patients and consumers. The numbers augmented by incidents of racism and police brutality are triggering for people of color who have succumbed to COVID19 at a disproportionate rate.
In the absence of nationwide population testing or a vaccine regime in the foreseeable future, there are varying points of view and ethical considerations on how best to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-pharmacologic interventions, such as quarantine, isolation, and the use of personal protective equipment, are necessary to achieve disease mitigation and eventual suppression.
The U.S. health care system has long-neglected minority mental health. It continues to do so during this time of coronavirus-wrought isolation, economic hardship, and social unrest. Paying homage to he-roes and she-roes in the long struggle for equal rights in mental health care offers hope….
