Multicultural Action Center Resources

Significant progress has been made in discovering effective treatments for serious brain disorders and developing recovery services that work. Unfortunately, this progress has not generally translated into better services for members of diverse communities living with severe mental illness.

NEW! Evidence-Based Practices and Multicultural Mental Health: a review of current literature discussing pertinent issues around the opportunities and challenges EBPs present for the achievement of quality mental health service delivery and access among diverse commuities.

Information about the mental health status of the four major communities identified by the Surgeon General

The Surgeon General reports people of color, both adults and children, are less likely than their white counterparts to receive needed mental health care. The four identified communities face additional barriers such as poverty, lack of service and supports, pervasive stigma and prejudice, language barriers and lack of cultural competence in service delivery. 

• African American
• Asian American and Pacific Islanders
• Latino/Hispanic
• American Indian and Alaska Native

To read the executive summary or the full report, Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity, A Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General (2001), visit the Culture, Race, Ethnicity homepage, part of the Office of the Surgeon General site.

Research and Additional Information on Mental Health Care in Diverse Communities

• Information about mental health issues in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender  communities.
• Overview of Multicultural Issues in Children's Mental Health
• Multicultural Issues in Veterans Mental Health Fact Sheet
• Cultural Psychiatry Reference List, generously provided by Dr. Francis Lu of University of California San Francisco.  A wonderful resource of research articles and books about health care for many racial and ethnic groups.
• Cultural Competence
• The Facts about Stigma and Mental Illness in Diverse Communities
• Additional Web Sites and Links

NAMI General Multicultural Outreach Resources

• Basic Steps for Successful Multicultural Outreach
• NAMI Multicultural Outreach Planning Guide (manual)

Resources in Other Languages

As part of our commitment to provide educational resources for consumers and family members from diverse communities, NAMI MAC has developed materials in other languages to provide information about mental illness, treatment options, recovery and support.

• Chinese Language Materials
• Italian Language Materials
• Portugese Language Materials
• Spanish Language Materials

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