A void sometimes separates people in need of behavioral health treatment from the organizations able to provide it.
That's especially true among low-income populations and communities of color. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports these people are more than twice as likely than others to experience serious psychological distress. But they're also less likely to seek help.
In the Tri-County area, some of the top reasons for not seeking counseling or behavioral health assistance include waiting too long for services, not being able to afford it, not being able to find help, a lack of trust, or embarrassment., according to the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment survey.
James Agbara Bryson of Peoria's New Millennium Institute says there's several factors which play into that.
"Access is one. The stigma, and distrust of the mental health providers, as well as feeling that the providers lacked cultural competency to treat them. So it's a two-fold thing, which makes it even worse," he said.
Overcoming those factors is a challenge Bryson wants to address via two new programs: a cohort of trained Black community mental health educator paraprofessionals; and a Black haircare community health educator program relying on barbers and hairdressers to serve as a conduit to care.
The models are similar, but geared towards slightly different target audiences. Both rely upon the educator's status as a trusted member of the community whose words and advice carries more impact.
That person would be able to refer people to behavioral health resources in the community, using their position of trust to help break down the stigma associated with seeking help.
Bryson proposes a 2½-hour course to teach educators how to recognize depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, and other behavioral health issues.
"It's just teaching you the basic, simple concepts in things of mental health. The mental health needs of African Americans and low income (populations) are different than the general population," he said. "So we'll just talk about those things, highly engaging. And then after that, you get your CEU (continuing education unit certificate) and you're ready to roll."
Bryson said the community mental health educators are the missing link between reluctant people in need of help, and the existing resources to provide it.
Bryson said he still needs space and funding for the program, but it's something he's hoping to launch it this summer after securing more community partners.
Contact Bryson by calling (309) 208-8778 or visiting the New Millennium Institute's website.
