Building a System of Care: Addressing Mental Health and Public Safety Inequities in Black and Brown Communities

 To put it lightly, the world feels heavy. There’s no shortage of urgent crises competing for our attention—at home and abroad. In moments like these, it can be difficult to know where to focus our attention: Which new emergencies demand immediate action? Which deep-rooted injustices continue to call for our collective resistance? At the Center for Policing Equity, our compass is clear: we focus on care. More specifically, we ask how can our systems, especially our public safety systems, be redesigned to prioritize care for every member of our communities?  

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to shine light on  the unique challenges that Black and Brown communities face. These challenges are not just personal or individual—they are systemic. The scientific community has affirmed that racism is a social determinant of health, including mental health. That means issues like unequal access to healthcare, education, and wealth—combined with the realities of poverty and divestment in communities—directly impact mental wellness.

Furthermore, the relation between public safety and mental health cannot be separated from racism. For Black and Brown people, interactions with the public safety system are too often shaped by bias, surveillance, and punishment rather than care and protection. These compounded harms do more than erode trust—they worsen mental health outcomes.  

Despite these challenges, progress is possible. In fact, expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act was a lifeline for many Black communities. Though disparities in access and health outcomes remain, research shows that increased health coverage led to reduced  arrest rates in the areas which expanded medicaid coverage, fewer use-of-force incidents, and declines in poverty. Access to care is not just about health—it’s also about justice and safety.

As some policymakers move to slash healthcare funding, we must understand the consequences: rolling back coverage for low-income communities will deepen existing inequities and further restrict access to vital mental health support. But communities can and are standing up what they need, and it is vital that we support their efforts. 

Across the country, community-centered approaches to mental health response are taking root. In Seattle, the CARE Department dispatches trained mental health responders instead of police wherever possible. In San Francisco, the Mental Health SF initiative provides 24/7 access to mental health and addiction services. Programs like these ensure communities receive care and compassion during a crisis, not punishment.  This Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, in the face of looming threats to our healthcare safety net, we call on policymakers to fully fund and expand community-based mental health programs. These efforts are essential to building a future where everyone—regardless of race, zip code, or income— has access to the care and support they need.