July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the unique mental health challenges faced by racially and ethnically diverse communities. For minority parents in particular, navigating parenthood while managing systemic stressors such as racism, financial barriers, and limited access to culturally competent care can significantly impact emotional well-being. Despite these challenges, conversations around mental health in these communities are often met with stigma or silence.
Recognizing and addressing these disparities is essential not just this month, but year-round. By understanding the specific pressures minority parents face and learning how to offer meaningful support, we can foster stronger, more resilient families.
To help guide this conversation, we turned to Jessica Plonchak, the Clinical Director at ChoicePoint Health. As a licensed behavioral health and social work professional with over a decade of experience in addiction recovery, mental health, and integrated care, Jessica offers deep insights into how we can better support minority parents’ mental health, starting with empathy, education, and access.
Cradlewise: What are some unique mental health challenges that minority parents face today?
Jessica Plonchak: Minority parents have to continuously deal with racism, financial disparities, and cultural marginalization in addition to fulfilling the responsibilities of parenthood. These problems put them at the risk of anxiety, depression and chronic stress, which not only affect their emotional health but also harm the well-being of family. Moreover, minority parents also carry the added emotional burden of preparing their children to live in a world that may not treat them with equity.
Cradlewise: How do systemic issues like lack of access to healthcare impact the mental well-being of minority parents?
Jessica Plonchak: Restricted access to quality healthcare leads to delays in treatment and mistrust in the system. When parents are struggling to look after their families while feeling mentally unsupported and rejected, the consequences are even more fatal.
Cradlewise: Why is it important to recognize and talk about mental health specifically within minority parenting communities?
Jessica Plonchak: It is important to talk about mental health within minority parenting communities because silence on sensitive topics becomes stigma over time. By throwing light on mental health in minority communities, we validate the real challenges of minority parents and break the stereotypes that associate seeking help with weakness.
Cradlewise: What role do cultural expectations and stigma play in how minority parents seek or avoid mental health support?
Jessica Plonchak: Cultural norms usually focus on self-sacrifice and keeping struggles private especially in minority communities. Most families are raised to believe that family problems should stay within the house as seeing a therapist is an act of shame. This stigma eventually stops parents seeking mental health support.
Cradlewise: What are some practical ways minority parents can care for their mental health, especially when resources feel limited?
Jessica Plonchak: Minority parents should build a small circle of trusted friends or family where they can openly discuss about their problems. They should also find out free or low-cost community health centers and online platforms. In addition to this, practicing grounding rituals, such as journaling, listening to music, prayer and breathing exercises can also help them feel much better.
Cradlewise: How can healthcare providers and birth professionals offer more culturally competent support to minority parents?
Jessica Plonchak: Healthcare providers should diversify staff and resources in order to address minority parents’ problems profoundly. They should also focus on validating experiences of discrimination to help parents avoid trauma.
Conclusion
Supporting the mental health of minority parents is not a one-month commitment. It’s an ongoing responsibility that requires awareness, action, and advocacy. As Jessica Plonchak reminds us, listening with compassion, creating safe spaces for dialogue, and addressing systemic inequities are key steps toward meaningful change. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, community leader, or loved one, your role in uplifting these families matters. Let’s use this July as a starting point to prioritize inclusive mental health support and carry that momentum forward every day of the year.
