Cultural Competency Gaps Challenge Mental Health Access for Indianapolis’s Diverse Communities

Indianapolis’s growing diversity presents both opportunities and challenges for mental health service delivery. Cultural barriers often prevent communities from accessing care, but innovative programs are beginning to address these disparities through targeted outreach and community-based solutions.

Research indicates that life circumstances, including socioeconomic disadvantage, ethnic and racial discrimination, and inequalities faced by the LGBTQ community, are inextricably linked to an individual’s risk of developing mental health challenges. These systemic factors create additional obstacles for communities already facing language, cultural, and economic barriers to mental health treatment.

Understanding Cultural Barriers

Language barriers represent one of the most immediate obstacles facing diverse communities seeking mental health care. Some Haitian and Burmese residents struggle to access health care due to a lack of translation services. Translation challenges extend beyond simple language conversion to include cultural concepts and expressions that may not have direct equivalents in English.

Stigma within different cultural communities creates another significant barrier. Many cultures view mental health conditions differently than mainstream American perspectives, sometimes attributing psychological distress to spiritual or moral causes rather than medical conditions requiring professional treatment.

The shortage of culturally competent providers compounds these challenges. There are 340 people for every one mental health provider, and among available providers, few may have specific training or experience working with particular cultural communities.

Options Behavioral Health seeks to incorporate cultural competency development into staff training to better serve Indianapolis’s diverse population, recognizing that effective mental health treatment requires understanding patients’ cultural contexts and beliefs about mental health.

Innovative Community Programs

Indianapolis has launched targeted initiatives to address cultural barriers in mental health access. New funding will train Haitian and Burmese residents to become behavioral health professionals in their communities. Over the next year, a total of 20 Haitian and Burmese community members will become certified peer recovery coaches through the Behavioral Health Cultural Equity Grants — a partnership between the Office of Public Health and Safety, Mental Health America Indiana, and leaders from Indianapolis’ Haitian and Burmese communities.

Both communities have experienced political upheaval, leading to a large number of Haitian and Burmese resettlements in Indianapolis. The training program addresses this specific need by preparing community members who understand the cultural and linguistic needs of their neighbors.

The behavioral health training through Mental Health America of Indiana will last roughly 40 hours over a three-week period, with a goal of employing participants in the Clinician-Led Community Response Team, which responds to 911 calls from people going through a mental health crisis, or the Assessment and Intervention Center.

Options Behavioral Health works with community organizations to identify cultural barriers to treatment. The hospital’s clinical staff aims to provide culturally responsive care for various populations, recognizing that effective treatment must account for patients’ cultural backgrounds and perspectives.

Building Inclusive Treatment Models

“As a community, Indianapolis only gets stronger when all its residents get together to support one another,” said Martine Romy Bernard-Tucker, OPHS Director. “And when we support each other, everyone’s life is better. So every resident in Indianapolis — Hoosier born or adopted — no matter your culture, or your background, we see you. We welcome you. We are here to support you physically and mentally.”

Options Behavioral Health’s emphasis on family involvement recognizes diverse family structures and cultural approaches to mental health. The facility’s group therapy programs can be adapted for different cultural perspectives, acknowledging that healing approaches vary across communities. Options Behavioral Health’s community partnerships help ensure culturally appropriate aftercare resources connect patients with supports that understand their specific cultural needs and contexts.