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National Minority Health Month takes place every April and is an initiative aimed at promoting awareness about improving healthcare in minority communities, including Black, Latino and Native American populations. The goal is to address disparities in healthcare outcomes and access to care that disproportionately affect these groups.��

“No doctor can ever know everything about another person’s experiences and how their cultural identity has shaped their experiences,” says Stephanie Cherestal, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology in Clinical Psychiatry at �ձ�avɫ��Ƭ and assistant attending psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital . “But the more we are willing to learn from our patients or our clients about what their experiences are, the better we will be able to serve them.”��

The Pandemic Worsened Health Disparities��

It’s well-known that health outcomes and likelihood of developing certain conditions can vary based on different groups of people. Osteoporosis, for example, is more common in white women than in Black women, and is more common in Black men than in white or Asian men.��

that the COVID-19 pandemic only worsened disparities, with an estimated 1.63 million excess deaths of Black Americans in the past two decades. That’s 80 million years of potential life lost to violence, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and COVID-19.��

Preventive Care Is Key��

Annual wellness visits to your primary care provider (PCP) can help detect signs of potential health conditions before they become severe. Many of these conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, can be prevented if you make lifestyle changes or start medications in time.����

During your wellness visit, your PCP can run simple tests to check for:��

Older adults, especially women, should also be screened for osteoporosis and may need a follow-up bone density scan.��

You also need regular cancer screenings. Minority populations often have higher rates of death from cancer due to late detection, even in cases where a cancer type is more common in white people. Detecting cancer when it is in its early stages means it is more likely to be treatable. Talk to your PCP about when to start screening for:��

Know Your Risk Factors��

Although not every risk factor for heart disease or cancer is preventable, many lifestyle factors can be adjusted to lower your risk.��

Your primary care provider can work with you to make a plan for lifestyle changes that stick.��

Don’t Neglect Your Mental Health��

Mental health care is just as important as physical health care. But minority communities are less likely to seek mental health care. In some communities, there may be a stigma around reaching out for help, especially for men. Seeking mental health care is not weak. If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, talking to a specialist can help you learn new coping skills.��

“There’s a growing body of research that has repeatedly demonstrated the negative neurobiological impacts of ongoing socioeconomic inequalities and systemic injustice,” Dr. Cherestal says. “There are different types of talk therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, that can help people who are struggling with racial stress and trauma.”��

�ձ�avɫ��Ƭ Is Working Toward Change��

While taking steps to improve your own health is important, racial health disparities are also a systemic problem. Improving awareness of needed health screenings and preventive care is only a small part of the problem. to hiring and supporting a diverse staff, as well as a in the Medical College. We are also committed to ongoing steps to reduce barriers to care.��

“Providing culturally responsive care goes hand in hand with providing optimal patient-centered care,” Dr. Cherestal says. “I believe that tailoring a treatment plan involves looking at all aspects of a patient’s identity, because we can't look at these symptoms in a vacuum.”��

Want to get caught up on your screenings or vaccines this month? �ձ�avɫ��Ƭ makes it easy. .��