Mental Health in Marginalized Communities

Regardless of demographics or personal characteristics, human existence is rich with complex emotions. Each of us are touched by grief, joy, sadness, pain, and pleasure as par for the course of living. 

While mental health concerns are universal, those of us with marginalized* identities bear the weight of additional mental health barriers due to intergenerational trauma and the “imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy” that we live in today, as coined by bell hooks. 

*To be marginalized means having less access to basic services, opportunities, and resources due to gender, disability, geography, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and/or other demographic factors.

As a company founded by a trans-masculine person, led by the clinically underrepresented, and utilized by underserved communities, we exist to heal the mental health inequities faced by those of us with marginalized identities.

Khesed utilizes affirmative action throughout our hiring process by prioritizing hiring underrepresented (LGBTQ, disabled, BIPOC, Spanish-speaking, and other) therapists. We continue our learning by participating in 3rd-party Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training, dedicating 20% of our annual budget to DEI efforts, and diversifying our network of therapists, leadership, and clients to provide high quality, mirrored representation for the communities we aim to serve.

We’re here to shed light on how we can help those of us in need of therapeutic support that is both affordable and culturally competent.

Stigma

Stigma exists as a pervasive yet often invisible barrier surrounding therapeutic support for the marginalized–including those of us who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQ, and others. 

Unfortunately, BIPOC-identifying individuals may be less likely to seek therapeutic support due to societal expectations (often influenced by historical colonial narratives) that demand an overly resilient approach to mental health struggles. 

Furthermore, due to a lack of diverse representation, therapists may not be aware of how individuals from different cultural backgrounds may present mental health symptoms in ways different from their own. Within a clinical setting, this lack of awareness can lead to misdiagnosis.

The Facts:

• Among adults with diagnosis-based need for mental health or substance abuse care, 37.6% of Whites, but only 22.4% of Latinos and 25.0% of African Americans, receive treatment.

• Asian Americans utilize mental health services at about one-third the rate of white Americans.

• 72% of nonbinary clients experience microaggressions from their therapist

• At least two-thirds of health providers hold some form of implicit bias against marginalized groups

Khesed combats these inequities by supporting therapists with 50 annual hours of clinical training sessions specifically designed to enrich their experience with unique specialties and important cultural understandings. In addition, we offer 50 annual hours of DEI training to our leadership, and are LGBTQ founded, led, and utilized. 

Accessibility

For those of us enabled to overcome stigma and reach out for support, socio-economic factors, language barriers, and provider availability widen the landscape of mental health barriers. 

The average cost of out-of-pocket therapy within the United States hovers in the hundreds.

Even if insurance coverage is available, oftentimes, mental health services are under-covered, and barriers continue to exist in the form of long wait times, lack of culturally competent therapists, and unaffordable co-pays. 

The Facts:

• The average wait time to access mental health services is about six weeks.

• Nationwide, the average cost of therapy is $182/session, which equals $364/month for biweekly sessions.

• Latinas are typically paid just 52 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men.

• While Black Americans make up over 13% of the population, only 4% of therapists identify as Black.

To increase mental health accessibility, Khesed is committed to providing therapy for 50% market rate —or less. And, all clients receive their first session within seven days of reaching out to us.

Burnout

Therapists face barriers, too. 

Marginalized therapists often face unique workplace struggles. Inequitable pay, disproportionate levels of burnout, and limited representation in leadership roles are some of the most significant contributing factors hindering therapists’ ability to provide diverse and inclusive care to marginalized clients in need of culturally competent support. 

The Facts:

• 41% of Black therapists report being burnt out

• The average salary for mental health therapists in the United States is $35,642 – 40% below the national average

• White individuals make up the vast majority (83%) of leadership roles

• Less than 1% of Fortune 500 CEOs publicly identify as LGBTQ

Despite these disheartening statistics and the unfortunate nature of the mental health field for therapists and clients alike, hope still remains. 

Khesed exists to increase mental health equity for those of us seeking support in the face of intergenerational trauma, socio-economic struggles, and workplace disparities.

The vast majority of our therapists, clinical leadership, and network of support roles identify as marginalized. We participate in company-wide DEI training to decrease implicit bias, 50 annual hours of leadership consultation from a third-party to increase our learning, and recently launched our DNA team to ensure our actions as a company reflect our intentions.

We offer free and affordable therapy for LGBTQ, BIPOC, and other marginalized folks. Clients receive services within one week of reaching out to us, and we offer virtual sessions to accommodate those without a car or living within therapy deserts.

We invite you to schedule a session, donate to continue our services, and stay tuned via our social media to further our mission: everyone deserves access to therapy–it’s a human right.