Closing Minority Mental Health Equity Gaps as a Way to Increase Access to Engineering Education.

Mental health has begun to receive significantly more attention in recent years, particularly during July, which is recognized as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This observance aims to raise awareness about the unique mental health challenges faced by racial and ethnic minority communities. It emphasizes the need for mental health care that is tailored to the specific needs of these groups and seeks to combat the stigma that often prevents individuals
from seeking help. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, mental health issues affect approximately 18.3% of African Americans, 16.3% of Hispanic Americans, 13.9% of Asian Americans, and 28.3% of American Indians/Alaska Natives. Unfortunately, minority communities often have limited access to mental health services. For instance, only 8.7% of Asian Americans and 9.4% of Hispanic Americans receive mental health care, compared to 18.6% of non-Hispanic Whites. Moreover, when minorities do seek treatment, it is frequently of lower quality; only one in three African Americans who need mental health care actually receive it. This paper explores the potential impact of mental health challenges on the retention of underrepresented students in engineering and engineering technology programs.