Although minorities make up a considerable amount of the entire population in the United States, they experience major mental health disparities. Minorities often have less access to health care, and the health care that is available is usually poorer quality compared to the non-minority population. Decreasing mental health disparities within minority groups is currently a National effort. The problem is very complicated because it includes a lack of community based interventions, unequal access to evidence-based practices, and a lack of resources to fund health services. Typically, because of these complications, minorities are more likely to utilize psychiatric emergency services, to enter emergency treatment by means of law enforcement, and to be involuntarily hospitalized. Despite the utilization of emergency services and inpatient facilities, they are less likely to receive regular outpatient care after discharge. They are also less likely to experience symptom remission and less likely to improve their global functioning to return to work. My plan is to suggest that we use culturally competent treatment regimens in populations with different sociocultural backgrounds in order to help address racial bias in diagnosis formulation and lead to more appropriate treatment recommendations. Also, culturally sensitive interventions so we can reduce the levels of perceived stigma, increase treatment seeking among individuals from minority groups, increase treatment duration, and improve outcomes. Mental health services that are culturally sensitive and consider the needs of individuals from minority groups may increase service utilization in both the medical and the community settings. Addressing language barriers may also decrease the possibility of diagnostic assessment bias, diagnostic errors, and errors in management as well as increase retention in depression care. Mental health is an essential aspect of a person's well-being, just like physical health. Mental health issues can arise due to various factors, including genetics, environmental factors, social influences, and personal experiences. My experience with mental health has significantly influenced my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. I have seen firsthand the impact of mental health on people around me, ranging from friends and family to acquaintances and colleagues. This experience has made me more empathetic towards people struggling with mental health issues. I believe that mental health is a crucial aspect of one's overall health, and it should be treated with the same seriousness and urgency as physical health problems. My experience has also influenced my relationships, as I have learned to be more patient and understanding towards people who are dealing with mental health issues. I have become more aware of the stigma and discrimination that people with mental health issues face, and I strive to be a supportive friend, ally, and advocate. I believe that everyone deserves respect, empathy, and compassion, regardless of their mental health status. When it comes to my career aspirations, my experience with mental health has strengthened my resolve to pursue a profession that addresses mental health issues. I aim to make a meaningful difference in people's lives, especially those who are struggling with mental health problems. I am committed to supporting efforts to improve mental health services and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. I believe that everyone deserves access to quality mental health care and treatment, and I want to be part of the solution.

The pandemic led to social isolation and economic stress and triggered anxiety, depression, and boredom in which fueled more substance use and misuse. The pandemic may have also changed the drug market in ways that may have led to the use of counterfeit, unknown, and more potent drugs. Increased risky substance use may have led to higher overdose deaths. The CDC estimated that overdose deaths in the United States increased by 28.8% from September 2019 to September 2020. Data from the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP) revealed a 17% increase in suspected overdoses in March 2020 relative to the weeks before the COVID stay at home restrictions. Treatment through online sources, which was not widely used by specialty addiction treatment providers before the pandemic, increased dramatically as a result of the pandemic. The ideal online treatment center would be convenient and as effective as office-based therapy. Online treatment allows patients to access a more comprehensive selection of therapists and online therapists are dedicated to supporting their patients. I would personally offer every service that’s available and efficient to helping with someone’s treatment

Living with a parent struggling with addiction lead to a divided home, which caused me and my siblings to feel emotionally and physically neglected and unsafe. This caused us to become very mentally and emotionally unstable. I started to feel guilty and blame myself for my stepdads substance abuse. The trust in the immediate family began to disappear, other family members became distant and guarded, and communication with my Stepdad was difficult and frustrating. When under the influence of drugs, he would go into these raging fits and start abusing my mom. He would verbally abuse us but would mentally, physically, and verbally abuse my mom. Because of the drugs, he would rapidly lose weight and at some points, we didn’t even recognize who he was any more. He would disappear sometimes for days at a time, doing drugs and cheating with other women; including getting them pregnant. I personally developed unhealthy coping mechanisms like codependent behaviors as well as isolation, anger and resentment. I agreed with this statement because despite developing the trauma i have, and being introduced to unhealthy ways; i did not let that define me. I learned healthy ways to deal with my trauma and to cope and I did not let my past affect me any more. My past used to have a big impact on me when I got out of high-school, but i had to really sit down and write down in a journal the life i wanted for myself and how i was going to heal.

There are actually two books that transformed my life; ‘Three Little Words’ and ‘A Child Called “It”’. These two books I first read in 6th grade. From that moment on, I knew what i wanted to pursue in life. These books are about Child Abuse, and it moved me so much. Realizing that this is really what is going on in some peoples home, this was these children’s everyday reality. Instead of being able to be a kid, they were brutally hurt by the ones who were sworn to protect them from everything… but they failed to protect their child from themselves. It made such an impact on me because growing up, I was mentally and emotionally abused and these books caused a trigger in me that never went away. Ever since then, I have been trying to make my way into the Social Work world; working to protect the innocence of these children. They should not have to feel unsafe and misguided at the fault of their parents, or at all. They need some one out there who sees them and hears their cries for help, that someone is me. These children need me. I need them. I need to know that one day when i leave this world, that I had done my best to help every child that I encountered in this situation. I want this to be a legacy i pass down to my children. Where i can motivate my own children to take this same path I’m taking, but better!

Domestic Violence has been at an all time high. As a disciplined student, I have always believed that whenever you take a task; you complete it and do full justice with it. May it be academics, sports, projects or extracurricular activities I have given my best. Once I start work, I don’t get distracted until I complete it. And I believe this is very essential and positive characteristics of anyone’s personality trait. I think the best way to sharpen what you have learned is to apply the knowledge in the practical work. So my passion is to use my personal experience and my education in order to make a difference from on the inside; which is why I currently work for a Domestic Violence Shelter as a Youth Mentor. I am aiming for Adult Case Manager. This scholarship will give me the chance to increase my career options and continue to get the best education possible, in order to advocate for Domestic Violence Victims. My mother was a DV Victim for 12 1/2 years, and it really traumatized my siblings and I— even til this day. I still find myself dealing with certain triggers in certain situations because of that trauma. What we endured, I vowed to do as much as i could so another child wouldn’t have to suffer for as long as we did; so another child wouldn’t end up having to watch their mother be buried; so another child won’t have to worry about watching their back every time they go to school; so another chid wouldn’t have to hear their mother being threatened and verbally abused.

For 14 1/2 years, I lived in a physically, mentally and verbally abusive home- where i was also emotionally neglected. Growing up in an abusive household took a toll on me at a young age, where my trust issues are rooted from and where my emotionally scarring is also rooted from. Being the oldest and the most like my parent, was hard. I was ultimately resented and hated, verbally and mentally abused. Everything was my fault, when it wasn’t. At a young age, about 6th grade, was when I first picked up “A Child called it”. This book…. Had moved me so much, I’ve read it back to back multiple of times. Right then and there, was when I made a vow, to go into Child Protective Investigations. The last time my stepdad put his hands on my Mom, I vowed to never let him do that again. I became the bigger person and ran outside to where they were and I defended my mom. Even after everything she put me through, I defended her like my life depended on it… because it did. THAT is when I knew, I wanted to be an advocate for Domestic Violence victims, and open up my own Women & Childrens shelter for DV victims. 14 1/2 years of pain and emotional trauma, it is so hard to heal. But currently, my major is Social Work so I have been taking the classes and psychology electives I’m order to better understand 1. How to heal my self 2. How to help aid others in healing 3. How i can use my experience to make an impact on these women. Til this day, I still know a lot of women of have and/or are still in abusive relationships. I have had 3 other family members in abusive relationship, but my mother was the only one in one for the longest amount of time. From guns pulled on her, threats made to her and us, kicking down our door in the middle of the night, shattering our windows and car, stalking us, popping up unannounced. We had to move in the middle of the night all the way across town, and he still found us. Thankfully, he is now out of our lives. But my want, to be an advocate for DV victims as well as CPS rooted from my childhood. It still impacts my current relationships here and there, but I promise…. It has gotten so much better.

I’m a Dancer. Whenever I get in a studio, my body takes over and whatever is on my mind is showed through my dancing. I have been dancing since the age of 7, from personal to semi-professional. One minute, i could have so much emotion spilling over where my body is literally shaking; the next minute, I’d be so calmed and relaxed that I am just going through the movements and it feels amazing. Dancing has always been my distraction from the world, my go to when there is nothing else. I come from a family of dancers. We have been in many of competitions out of state and local, as well as finales. Dancing for us, is our biggest competitive sport and our biggest achievements. We strive to create a room where even those who don’t have a history of dance, still feel comfortable to show their moves off.