Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Bradley REACH
By Bradley REACH DEI Group
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Across the United States, racial and ethnic groups experience unacceptable disparities and inequities in access to mental health care. To give just one example, in 2019 50.3% of adolescents with depression received treatment in the past 12 months. For Hispanic/Latino and Black Americans, however, this falls to 36.8% and 35.6% respectively.
Our Mission
Bradley REACH’s mission is to expand access to high-quality mental health care for all adolescents and their families. Fundamental to our mission is a steadfast commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We are committed to a treatment environment in which all racial and ethnic groups, genders, sexualities, religious identifiers, socioeconomic groups and abilities are included and respected. We acknowledge the significant impact of the social determinants of health on mental health and are dedicated to addressing these factors to promote holistic, patient and family-centered care.
We’re actively working to create a more diverse and equitable treatment environment in our virtual partial hospitalization (PHP) programs in the following four areas:
People
We recognize that we need a diverse workforce in order to provide culturally appropriate care. We are committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting clinicians that are reflective of the families we serve, and of the diversity of the country as a whole. Furthermore, we prioritize recognizing and rewarding providers who demonstrate cultural competence. We are dedicated to fostering an environment where our team can continually enhance their knowledge of DEI and culturally appropriate care practices.
Clinical Care
We serve teens from diverse backgrounds, addressing a range of diagnoses. We recognize that mental health challenges stem from complex interactions among biological, psychological, and social factors, rather than solely from internal experiences. Research shows that discrimination has a lasting impact on mental health. We acknowledge the lasting impact of racism and other forms of discrimination and stigmatization on mental health. Our approach regards teenagers as unique individuals with strengths beyond their diagnoses, and view symptoms as a way to adapt and communicate.
Our teams are skilled in cross-cultural treatment modalities. We work to tailor our treatment model to the specific needs of the families and communities that we work in partnership with. We are dedicated to enhancing our intercultural communication skills. We know that creating a comfortable environment in which patients feel understood contributes to more effective treatment outcomes. We work to sustain these gains outside the program by working with community providers to connect families to culturally appropriate care when they leave our program.
Data
Research on the effectiveness of partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) hasn’t traditionally included a diverse patient population. In our own research, we include teens’ self-definition of their demographic and socioeconomic status. We benchmark our data against data on racial and ethnic, gender and sexual diversity in the local population, and use this as part of internal quality improvement to ensure we serve an increasingly diverse population. We analyze clinical outcomes data to include membership of traditionally oppressed populations, to ensure we understand any differences in treatment outcomes.
Partnerships and Community
We are committed to enhancing access to mental health care in underserved areas. Collaborating with the communities within which adolescents live is fundamental to our ability to do this successfully. By partnering closely with community organizations, community providers, schools and families we gain insight into the unique needs of local communities, especially those of minority populations. We actively engage with communities to raise awareness about our programs and ensure their accessibility.
At Bradley REACH, DEI is an ongoing journey where we actively address our own biases and prejudices. We are dedicated to continuously improving and offering more equitable care. Your feedback and suggestions for enhancing our efforts are always welcome. Please reach out to us at bradleyreach@lifespan.org.
DISCLAIMER:
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
If you or your child are in crisis or experiencing mental health problems please seek the advice of a licensed clinician or call 988 or Kids Link in Rhode Island.
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