about MindStylz
Barriers
Why do communities of color mistrust mental health services? Historically, the field of psychology has not considered and/or respected cultural differences. There were direct and indirect biases and stereotyping among clinicians. Numerous barriers kept communities of color from accessing mental health services. Some of them are intrinsic to the community cultures, others are society-based:
- social stigma
- minimal mental health facilities
- limited availability of clinicians of color
- language
- cost
Purpose
The purpose of MindStylz is to empower communities of color in the following ways:
- increase education about mental health in communities of color
- gain greater acceptance of psychological care and treatment
- provide easier access to community mental health services
- increase access to mental health providers from ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds
About EDTF
MindStylz was developed by the Ethnic Diversity Task Force (EDTF), a group of ethnically and racially diverse professionals and students. EDTF promotes and advocates for culturally competent mental health services in communities of color. EDTF supports the recruitment and retention of ethnically diverse students and professionals in the field of psychology through networking and mentorship. EDTF is part of the Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA).
