Mental Health Disparities’ Data Collection

Despite the extensive research on the topic of mental health disparities, the medical and health fraternity tends to disagree on the meaning of inequalities in the field. In this case, ethnic mental health disparities seem to induce conflicts due to the cultural diversity aspects of mental health patients. Ethnic disparities associated with mental health are characterized by differences in the quality of health care due to racial or cultural factors. Ethnic minorities in various societies experience poor health conditions and treatment due to the cultural and social constructions that include stereotyping and social exclusion (Nguyen-Feng, Beydoun, McShane, & Blando, 2014). Gaps in mental health care based on ethnicity are ascribed to the health status of the patients, hence the need for creating parity. For instance, in the US, African Americans are perceived to have poor health conditions and outcomes as compared to their white counterparts. Therefore, the treatment of mental dis s affecting African Americans tends to be compromised due to their ethnic affiliations and the perspectives of other social groups that may induce stigmatization (Nguyen-Feng et al., 2014).