Building Generational Resilience: Supporting BIPOC Grandfamilies and Kinship Families’ Mental Health

July 1, 2024

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By Jamarl D. Clark, Deputy Director, Generations United, National Center for Grandmothers

Have you ever felt the need to be seen and acknowledged? It’s a universal desire, right? Unfortunately, the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, especially when it comes to mental health and well-being. That’s why July is dedicated to the mental health of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Let’s take a moment to talk about something important without taking up too much of your time: the mental health needs of grandparents and extended family members of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. These families step in when parents can’t, and their mental health and well-being needs can vary greatly across generations.

Did you know? There are approximately 2.4 million children living in grandparent and kinship familieswhere they are raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, or other relatives without their parents in the home. Approximately 7.6 million children live in households headed by a relative other than their parent. Grandparent families and kinship families are diverse and represent various geographies, socioeconomic statuses, races, and ethnicities. However, they are disproportionately Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and in some areas, Latino.

BIPOC caregivers and youth in these families often struggle to access mental health services for issues ranging from depression and stress to behavioral issues. But what is really stopping them?

Breaking down barriers

Growing up as a Black child, I always heard the saying, “What happens in this house stays in this house.” This saying, especially prevalent among Black and Latinx communities and passed down through generations, reflects a cultural norm that emphasizes the importance of keeping family matters private. While well-intentioned, this attitude of secrecy can create a barrier to seeking outside help for personal or family issues. As a result, BIPOC families may avoid seeking the mental health support they need to address issues like depression, trauma, anxiety, substance abuse, and more.

Let’s talk about the barriers that BIPOC grandparents and extended family members face when it comes to getting the mental health support they need. In addition to the barriers that any BIPOC family may face, these families often face additional stigma, financial challenges, and a lack of access to culturally responsive and supportive mental health care. There are also barriers associated with digital literacy and access to high-speed internet, which many families can use to access mental health resources.

Take the Mercedes of Texas as an example. She is 68 years old and is raising her grandchildren. She said: “I had to jump through hoops in the system four times just to get help… it really got me down.” In her Hispanic community, talking about mental health is taboo. People fear being judged or seen as weak, leading to a lack of awareness and support. This stigma, rooted in cultural beliefs of resilience and self-reliance, frames seeking mental health support as a personal failure or family shame. As a result, many avoid talking about their struggles or seeking help, worsening their mental health. Additionally, mistrust of health care providers due to past mistreatment, lack of culturally competent care, and cultural pressures to rely on religious practices further impede access to mental health support.

Financial challenges are also a major obstacle facing these communities. Many grandparents and extended families are on fixed incomes and are faced with the added expenses of raising children. Therapy can be expensive, and when you have to choose between paying bills, buying food, covering the cost of medication, paying for childcare, paying the mortgage, and paying for diapers and formula or receiving mental health support, it is a difficult decision. The desire to provide food, shelter, and safety often outweighs prioritizing mental health and well-being.

Dr. Deborah Langosch, who works with grand families/kinship families and was featured in Generations United’s 2023 State of Large Families ReportShe says, “We are seeing a huge increase in anxiety, depression, PTSD and social isolation among these families. The need is so urgent and there is a shortage of mental health providers, so we are struggling to keep up. Intervention is crucial because delay in treatment can have a huge negative impact.”

Imagine if there were more mental health professionals who looked like them and understood their cultural nuances. That would build trust and make a big difference for these families.

How can we take a step forward?

To truly support BIPOC grandfamilies and relatives, we can:

Embrace cultural understanding: It is essential that mental health services value and respect the diverse backgrounds and traditions of these families.
Empower your voices: Involve caregivers, parents and young people from these families in the design and implementation of support services. Their knowledge and experience are invaluable.
Ensure accessibility: Advocate for more affordable mental health care and provide the technology needed for virtual visits. Everyone deserves easy access to the help they need.
Investing in tribal nations: Support culturally appropriate mental health services specifically designed for tribal communities.

In closing, supporting BIPOC grandparents and extended families with their mental health isn’t just about talking, it’s about taking action. By breaking down stigmas, pushing for affordable care, and making services culturally sensitive, we’re giving these families a fair chance to thrive. Let’s make sure every voice counts and every family gets the help they need. Together, we can make mental health support easy to reach and empowering for everyone.