College can be a uniquely challenging and stressful experience for minority students, but the past two years have been unlike any before. The twin challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and America’s racial reckoning have put the mental health of minority students under severe strain. On Tuesday, Diverse hosted a panel of experts for a virtual discussion of how this issue can be addressed. 
Dr. Nahed Barakat
Crucial to minority student mental health is overcoming cultural stigmas that may prevent them from seeking help. Hiring and retaining diverse mental health staff is critical, according to Dr. Nahed Barakat, interim training director and coordinator of diversity and inclusion activities at the University of Denver’s Health & Counseling Center. But having a diverse staff isn’t only about representation—it’s about cultural competence.
“The field of psychology was based on a very white-centric view of the world,” said Barakat. “It’s very individualistic, person-centered, rather than community-centered or system-centered.”
In an interview with Diverse after the panel, she gave the example of a Hispanic student seeking treatment for a problem with his or her family.
“The approach is, well, you need to meet your own needs, you need to focus on yourself. And that’s really just not going to work because that’s not what the culture is," she said. "[Psychology] has pathologized thinking about your family’s needs when it’s not a pathology.”
Paying close attention to student needs is also important to getting them to engage with mental health services, according to Amy Gatto, senior manager of Higher Ed and Evaluation at Active Minds, a non-profit promoting mental health for young adults.
“Are we asking our students what they need instead of just assuming?” she said. “Are students not engaging in self-care because sometimes that can come from a place of privilege? What does it look like on a campus if you’re struggling with your basic needs? What supports do campuses have, whether it’s housing or food insecurity? Then they can start addressing some of their mental health concerns.”
