Experiencing discrimination

Discrimination, prejudice and mistreatment because of who we are, where we’re from, how we act or who we love, can have a profound impact on mental health. It increases the risk of mental health conditions, substance misuse and suicide. If mistreatment causes you or someone you know emotional harm, it’s essential to take action.

Learn

Discrimination has three primary impacts on our mental health: prejudice, oppression and access to resources. Medical News Today offers a comprehensive article digging into these topics, warning signs of distress due to discrimination and ways to cope.

Prejudice

Prejudice is to have preconceived beliefs about someone because they belong to certain groups. It can negatively impact people at work, their access to education and other services and physical or mental health concerns.

Oppression

Oppression occurs when one group suppresses another group for their own gain or other selfish reasons. Common forms of oppression include persecution, enslavement and violence that targets people of color.

Access to Resources

Discrimination and racism also impact a person or group’s ability to access mental health care and other resources. This happens for many reasons, but in America, economic disparity and health insurance are primary factors.

Act

How to Cope

The American Psychological Association shares strategies for coping with stress, anxiety and hopelessness due to discrimination.

Meditation on Grief and Injustice

If you’re experiencing discrimination, it’s important to find ways to give yourself the care that the outside world may not be providing. Headspace put together a meditation to navigate grief and injustice.

Racial Trauma

Recent events have highlighted the devastating emotional health impact of trauma due to racial discrimination and acts of violence. The University of Georgia put together a resource center on racial trauma with information on its impact and how to cope with it.

Connect

Unfortunately, discrimination is common. The trauma and distress is real and harmful. Please seek help if you or someone you know is struggling — check out the resources below or browse the full directory here.

When contacting a resource below, any information you provide will be collected and used by that resource, subject to its end user terms and conditions and privacy policy. Please contact the applicable resource if you would like more information.
Resource Type Contact
Crisis Text Line

Have a free, confidential chat with a trained counselor. Available 24/7.

 Text Line Text ACTION to 741-741
Lifeline

Call for a free, confidential conversation with a trained counselor. Available 24/7.

 Call Line 988
Inclusive Therapists

Inclusive Therapists offers a safer, simpler way to find a culturally responsive, social justice-oriented therapist.

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Trans Lifeline

A free peer support phone service run by trans people for the trans community, that operates from 10am to 5am EST.

 Call Line 877-565-8860
The Trevor Project

A safe, judgement free support service  for LGBTQ and questioning youth who are struggling or thinking about suicide. Available 24/7.

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National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN)

NQTTCN works to increase access to healing resources for QTPOC.

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Free Black Therapy

The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to changing the perception of mental illness in the African American community by encouraging those who suffer with this debilitating illness to get the help they need.

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Asian Mental Health Collective

Why “Asian” mental health? Culture influences our values, beliefs, and norms. For the Asian diaspora, many find that these aspects of our culture are barriers to identifying, discussing and accessing mental health literacy and resources.

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South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network (SAMHIN)

SAMHIN, a non-profit organization, addresses a broad range of mental health needs of the South Asians in the U.S. including offering support groups, directory of South Asian mental health providers and a Helpline.

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Latinx Therapy

Latinx Therapy is a multimedia community that destigmatizes mental health myths, provides education to eliminate taboos of therapy, and advocates to combat mental health stigmas through a bilingual podcast, and a directory of Latinx Therapists for easier accessibility to services.

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Warmline Directory

A Warmline is a free peer-run hotline that offers callers emotional support, staffed by volunteers with lived experience.

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ADAA Therapist Search

A tool to help find local mental health services, including teletherapy options.

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Outside the U.S.? Find a Helpline

Free emotional support, wherever you are.

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