Women’s health and mental wellness are hot topics in United States politics and media. It seems foreign to discuss women’s health and mental wellness in government spaces, but with the recent formulation of harmful policies, such as abortion bans and black maternal death rates finally being acknowledged, it can be often depressing to be a woman or a new mom of color in our country, as we know it today. Women’s health is at risk, but more specifically black women’s physical health and mental health as it relates to childrearing is at a substantially higher risk. In this blog, I will discuss postpartum depression amongst black women and how often it is underdiagnosed, inequitable healthcare access to receive quality care, and the overall mistrust of Western medicine.
Being the Female Model Minority
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women’s mental health is rarely discussed and is a significant part of their well-being. Maintaining mental health is a vital part of AAPI women’s dignity. It is essential to recognize that cultural, legal, language and economic barriers disrupt their autonomy and how they function with their family and community.