April is National Minority Health Month—a time to raise awareness on issues impacting health disparities and health equity in America. The theme for 2017, Bridging Health Equity Across Communities, emphasizes the collaborative, community-level work being done across the nation to help achieve health equity.
The conditions in the places where people are born, grow, live, work, play, learn, and age have significant impact on the health outcomes of individuals, families, and their communities. Throughout the month, the Health Education Ministry will highlight efforts in our community that address the indirect conditions that affect health, also known as social determinants of health.
By addressing the social determinants of health, we can strengthen the foundation of better health. Health disparities—the differences in health and well-being—have a significant impact on our nation and among racial and ethnic populations in particular. Minorities, particularly African Americans, are less likely to get the preventive care needed to stay healthy, less likely to receive quality care, and more likely to face poorer health outcomes.
The deaths that result from these health disparities cost the United States $1.24 trillion. Healthier communities mean lower health care costs, which translate into a stronger economy and a more productive, competitive America.
The work of Allen Temple Baptist Church and its various ministries create bridges that help make high quality education, safe neighborhoods, quality housing, reliable transportation, clean surroundings, nutritious food, and stable employment more accessible. It is vital work that touches the lives of our neighbors and the broader Oakland community. Here’s to your health!
Celebrated every year in April, National Minority Health Month is an effort to raise awareness about health disparities that continue to affect racial and ethnic minority populations. The year 2015 marked the 100-year anniversary of the establishment of Negro Health Week by Booker T. Washington, which led to the month-long initiative we now observe each year. The Allen Temple Health Education Ministry will bring innovative and promising practices to promote optimal health and wellbeing for your consideration each week in April. This week, we want to highlight the “Brother, You’re On My Mind” initiative:
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., have launched an educational outreach initiative titled “Brother, You’re On My Mind (BYOMM): Changing the National Dialogue Regarding Mental Health Among African-American Men.” The focus is to raise awareness about the mental health challenges associated with stress and depression that affect African-American men and their families.
While African-American men are as likely as anyone else to have mental illness, they are less likely to get help. Depression and other mental illness can be deadly if left untreated. Suicide is a leading cause of death among African Americans ages 15 to 24. Untreated mental illness can also make African-American men more vulnerable to substance abuse, homelessness, incarceration and homicide.
“We greatly appreciate this partnership with NIMHD and are looking forward to a long-term relationship to have the impact we know is needed in our chapters and the communities we serve for years to come,” said Omega’s Antonio F. Knox, Sr.
Omega members have taken a pledge to help change the national dialogue in underserved communities about mental illness; to become more knowledgeable about mental health; to educate other men and their communities about mental health; and to partner with other organizations to help reduce the stigma of mental illness. Through educational awareness programs, they also disseminate evidence-based public educational materials.
“I believe this is a wonderful collaboration that has already paid dividends in reducing the stigma attached to mental illness in the African-American community,” said Omega’s Dr. David Marion, who is leading the initiative.
For more information about the BYOMM Initiative, visit ww.nimhd.nih.gov/programs/collab/bYOMM.html.—Gerda Gallop-Goodman
In this next installment to commemorate National Minority Health Month, we continue to shift our attention to solutions. The National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities is an important initiative aimed at addressing the root causes and reducing the impact of health disparities.
What is the Problem?
We know that a healthier community is a stronger community. Yet too many of us don’t have the opportunity to lead a healthy life. As a result our families and friends often suffer substantially more health problems than others. Some African Americans can expect to live 20 years less than others because of where we live, our race, education or income.
Although the overall health of Americans has improved, differences in health for racial, ethnic and underserved communities have been persistent and pervasive for years. Where we live, learn, work and play has an enormous impact on our ability to make healthy decisions. We are never going to improve the health and well-being of people in our county or community until we close these health gaps.
Reducing these differences in health—known as health disparities—is not only the right thing to do; it is the smart thing to do. Poor health influences a student’s ability to pay attention in class, a parent’s ability to care for their children and a worker’s ability to perform well at his job. It also hurts our country’s ability to reach its potential and be competitive in the global market.
“Did you know that racial and ethnic minorities often face more barriers to seeking care than others? As a result we are more likely to have health problems. For example, African American women are 34 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than White women.”
Why Should You Care?
Everyone benefits when health disparities are reduced and we achieve health equity for all: health costs are greatly diminished; healthy children can grow into productive adults; and healthy adults boost workforce capacity and capability.
What Can You Do?
Reducing health disparities will take the collective efforts of individuals and organizations from many sectors, not just health, and require action from people in the community and extend to every level of government. Working together, we can reduce health disparities, achieve health equity, and create a healthier, stronger nation.
Five Steps to Address Health Disparities in Your Community
In this month’s final installment to commemorate National Minority Health Month, we will focus on solutions. Want to get involved in ending health disparities in your community? Here are a few ideas for addressing health disparities to get you started.
1. INCREASE AWARENESS About Health Disparities
- Blog or tweet about health disparities in your community, or share information via Facebook.
- Contact the media with stories about health disparities in your community.
- Write a letter to the editor or an opinion-article for your local newspaper.
- Speak at health fairs, PTA and school board meetings, civic meetings, faith-based events and other community gatherings.
2. BECOME A LEADER for Addressing Health Disparities
- Educate others about disparities and share stories about model programs with local organizations or community leaders.
- Start a petition to get local citizens to support policy recommendations and submit the petition to the appropriate elected officials.
- Organize a meeting of local organizations representing diverse sectors and work together to ensure health disparities is on the local and state health agenda.
- Form coalitions with local organizations representing diverse sectors and leaders from different racial, ethnic and other groups affected by health disparities to address common barriers.
- Serve as a mentor to a young person in your family, neighborhood or community. Educate him/her on the issues, encourage him/her to make healthy lifestyle choices; and guide him/ her to resources.
3. SUPPORT HEALTHY AND SAFE BEHAVIORS In Your Community
- Be a role model and serve nutritious foods at work or social functions.
- Involve your employees in a group physical activity or challenge. Participate in National Health Observances by sponsoring local health events or encouraging loved ones and colleagues to take action to address their health.
- Host seminars in your local library, school, workplace or other venues to discuss health disparities in your community. Topics could include reducing asthma triggers in the home, managing obesity and chronic illnesses, or how to enroll in public health insurance programs.
- Join the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely Campaign to help prevent drowning, which occurs at higher rates among racial and ethnic minorities.
4. IMPROVE ACCESS to Health Care
- Partner with a local health care provider or employer to offer free health screenings in your workplace or other locations where community members gather.
- Ask local health care providers to translate health and health care information or connect them to an individual or organization who can provide translation services.
- Establish a Community Health Worker, Health Conductor or Promotoras de Salud program in your community.
5. CREATE HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS
- Advocate for more sidewalks, bike lanes and recreation facilities in your neighborhood.
- Encourage local schools, workplaces and assisted living facilities to provide healthier lunch and snack options.
- Ask your neighborhood supermarket to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to the local foodbank, ask local restaurants to provide healthy menu options, or organize a farmers’ market that accepts food stamps.
- Work with your local government and organizations in your community to collect and track data about health disparities and monitor changes over time.
