July is observed as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, otherwise known as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month, to raise awareness about the unique mental health challenges and barriers that underrepresented and underserved communities face. For many of us working in behavioral health systems throughout the nation, it is imperative to continuously work towards improving access to high-quality mental health services for BIPOC individuals and people of diverse ethnicities.

Within our country’s military, about 31 percent of service members[1] and 26 percent of Veterans are BIPOC.[2] For years, the military and Veteran population and its organizations have directed their efforts towards addressing suicide risk within the military community. While suicide rates among service members and Veterans in general are significantly higher than the national average, suicide risk is disproportionately still higher among BIPOC groups serving in the military compared to their White counterparts. Based on data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense, the suicide rates for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans were the highest of all racial and ethnic groups. The per capita rate for Black and Hispanic service members and Veterans was twice the national average, according to 2021 data.[3]

With our ever-diversifying military population, we must strive for cultural awareness and understand ways to better serve BIPOC and ethnic minority service member and Veteran populations. Lindsay Church, co-founder of Minority Veterans of America, noted in our June 2022 Spotlight that “involving impacted folks through sharing lived experiences can help you understand the disparities and barriers that exist so that you can be proactive and preemptive as you build.” Lindsay noted that hosting events, such as listening sessions, roundtables, and town halls can help states, territories, and communities gain valuable insight into the exact needs of the populations they serve. With this, we’ve highlighted some additional key resources below:

  • SAMHSA’s Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance (SMVF TA) Center’s Diverse Populations webpage includes several resources pertaining to BIPOC Veterans, as well as LGBTQ+ and women Veterans.
  • VA’s Center for Minority Veterans works to ensure all Veterans receive equal service regardless of race, origin, religion, or gender. Reach out to a Minority Veterans Outreach Coordinator today to learn more about BIPOC benefits, resources, and organizations.
  • Minority Veterans of America is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable and just world for members of the Veteran community who are BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, and non-religious minorities.

SAMHSA’s SMVF TA Center is honored to provide TA to states, territories, and communities seeking to strengthen their behavioral health support for those who have served in the armed forces. For TA inquiries, please email smvftacenter@prainc.com. For more information about the SMVF TA Center and the resources offered, please visit SAMHSA’s SMVF TA Center’s web pages.

References

[1] 2022 Demographics Profile of the Military Community

[2] National Veteran Health Equity Report 2021

[3] 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report

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