Mental Health America works nationally and locally to raise awareness about mental health, with the goal of ensuring that those at risk for mental illnesses and related disorders receive proper, timely, and effective treatment. MHA encourages the use of culturally competent strategies that help address the needs of individuals with diverse values, beliefs, sexual orientations, and backgrounds that vary by race, ethnicity, and/or language.
Demographics
According to the United States Census Bureau:
- In 2020, the percentage of people who reported multiple races changed more than all of the single race groups, increasing from 2.9% of the population (9 million people) in 2010 to 10.2% of the population (33.8 million people) in 2020.
- The largest multiracial combinations in 2020 were white and “some other race” (19.3 million), white and American Indian and Alaska Native (4 million), white and Black or African American (3.1 million), white and Asian (2.7 million), and Black or African American and “some other race” (1 million).
- Between 2010 and 2020, the white and “some other race” population added 17.6 million people to the multiracial population, a change of over 1,000%.
- The white and American Indian and Alaska Native population also increased, growing by about 2.5 million people, or 177%.
- The white and Black or African American population increased by 1.2 million people, a 67.4% change.
- The white and Asian population increased by 1.1 million people, a 65.8% change in size.
- The Black or African American and “some other race” population increased by 722,383 people, a 230% change.
Cultural Factors
The Pew Research Center 2015 report "Multiracial in America" identified that:
- A majority of multiracial adults are proud of their mixed-race background (60%) and feel that their racial heritage has made them more open to other cultures (59%).
- A majority (55%) say they have been subjected to racial slurs or jokes, and about 1 in 4 (24%) have felt annoyed because people have made assumptions about their racial background.
- Not all adults with a mixed racial background consider themselves “multiracial.” In fact, 61% do not.
Prevalence
The American Psychiatric Association reports:
- Percent of people who identify as being two or more races with mental illness: 25%
- People who identify as being two or more races are most likely to report any mental illness within the past year than any other race/ethnic group.
Protective Factors & Resilience
The article "Seven Essential Facts About Multiracial Youth" from the American Psychological Association indicates:
- Multiracial children and adolescents are resilient. Researchers show that multiracial identity increases an appreciation and empathy for cultural diversity among others.
- Children and adolescents may benefit from developing positive views of their multiracial identity, as research with adults show that an integrated multiracial identity is a protective factor that helps psychological well-being.