Nazrin Nahar, a Young Invincibles’ National Youth Advisory Board member, discusses the inequalities people of color face when pursuing psychology degrees. You can read this discussion in Bengali here.

The people of the United States are in a mental health crisis more than ever. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 adults in the USA live with a mental health illness. In a study conducted by the American Psychological Association, more than 60% of students met the criteria for a mental illness of that percentage; students of color disproportionately make up a significant portion. These are not just numbers; these are people we know. For every 5 people we know, one of them may be battling a type of mental illness. 

Although awareness about mental health is being raised in colleges and workplaces, it’s not enough. Mental health illnesses are still heavily stigmatized and criminalized in many communities of color. Members of these communities who suffer from mental health issues often cannot access care due to the stigma surrounding mental health. Moreover, the mental health field is heavily lacking in providing diverse mental health care for patients from various racial and cultural backgrounds. This is why we need Congress to create more scholarships for people interested in becoming mental health providers to create a culturally competent and racially diverse mental health care field. A well-represented mental health care field is crucial to care for people of all backgrounds. It allows them to access care from someone who understands their unique and particular backgrounds and needs.   

As a member of the South Asian community, I am aware of the stigma surrounding mental health and well-being in my community. Although it’s being accepted more and more, there are not enough mental health care providers who understand the complexities of the South Asian community, which is quintessential in understanding the mental health state of South Asian patients. Many students who may want to become mental health providers are discouraged due to the imbalance in salary and studying costs to become a mental health care provider. The average debt for psychology students is $110,000, while the salary of a  full-time psychologist without a postdoctoral is around $60,000; a struggling amount in today’s economy, especially after taxes and with debts to pay for! This disparity in pay can be discouraging for a lot of students coming from communities who are chasing the “American Dream.”  

Many of my friends are pursuing psychology but are struggling to pay for textbooks alone, and they are only in their undergraduate. Coming from immigrant families, they feel unmotivated to stay on this track to become mental health caregivers due to the high cost of the degree while the pay continues to be subpar at best. If we are to create a culturally competent mental health field, Congress needs to provide more scholarship opportunities for people coming from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Otherwise, we will continue to have a mental health care field where many people are left uncared for. 

Nazrin Nahar is a student at Baruch College. She was raised in Bangladesh and moved to the United States in 2019. Nazrin is a member of Young Invincible’s National Youth Advisory Board.