the constant fear of deportation. consequently, undocumented latinos have a lower access to mental healthcare than u.s born latinos because of the current political restrictions against this community. after surveying individuals of different races, a study has shown that african americans, hispanics, and asian americans gain less access to the same type of mental services that non-minority whites get access to. a possible reason that the author stated: "this theory postulates that whites have a greater propensity to avoid living in poverty communities because they are more likely to enjoy social and economic advantages. only seriously mentally ill whites suffer from steep downward mobility and come to reside in high-poverty neighborhoods". minorities have an absence of mental health support within their communities as a result of stigmas and stereotypes applied to those pursuing mental health guidance. another barrier to the shortage of mental health support is the lack of this type of healthcare available because of the rural settings that contain a high population of minorities. external environmental factors, such as family, community, and work, can influence the inclination to reach out for mental health counseling. this has been a problem for minority races that need the same services. it is an issue because african americans, hispanics, and asian americans need the services more in certain areas due to how biologically certain minority races are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness than whites. problems can extend to the point of racial beliefs of health professionals and researchers influencing the diagnoses and treatments developed for some communities. james burgess waldram wrote a 2004 text revenge of the windigo (the title referring to "wendigo psychosis", which he asserts is an artificial construction of anthropologists and psychologists) discussing the behavioral health industry's difficulties successfully analyzing and treating the needs of indigenous people in the united states and canada. race is often difficult to acknowledge in mental health. even when access to mental health therapies exists for minorities, oftentimes both the therapist and the patient can be reluctant to factor their own racial positioning into treatment or find it difficult to believe that some of their mental health stress is due to race. both often favor explanations rooted in past experiences like family life, personal setbacks, and other potential barriers. lgbtq disparities and predictors sexuality plays a large role in the prediction of mental illnesses and overall mental health. those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer have a higher risk of having mental health issues, most likely as a result of the continued discrimination and victimization they receive at the hands of others. members of this population are confronted with derogatory and hateful comments, whether through face-to-face communication or through social media, which affects their self-worth and confidence, leading to anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, and suicide. these mental health effects are most commonly seen among adolescents, however, they are also prevalent among adults of all ages. the sources of discrimination and victimization that the lgbtq population suffers from can be both external and internal. while parts of society today are not accepting of the lgbtq community and make public statements to advertise their discontent, an identifying lgbtq can also have low confidence and a lack of self-worth that furthers these negative mental health effects. the most notable predictor of mental health illnesses among the lgbtq population is family acceptance. those of the lgbtq population who receive little or no family support and acceptance are three times more likely to have thoughts of suicide than those who do have a strong family support system behind them. oftentimes, the lack of familial support is more conducive of detrimental behaviors, such as drug and illegal substance abuse, which can cause further harm to the individual. multiple aspects of lifestyles, including religion, can affect family support. those who have strong family ties to religion may be less likely to seek support and help from family members due to fear of a lack of acceptance within the family, as well as within the religious community. although mental health awareness has increased for the lgbtq+ community, the aging citizens of this community are still struggling to have their voices heard. research has shown that compared to heterosexuals and other groups in the lgbtq+ community, older people have a higher incidence of suffering from mental health disorder. one of the most common reasons why older citizens refrain from seeking mental health care is due to the past discrimination by medical professionals. in addition to the lack of knowledge, this group is marginalized due to the lack of funding as most of the funds go to campaigns for the younger lgbtq+ population. sex and gender disparities and predictors while gender differences among those with mental health disorders are an underdeveloped field of study, there are gender specific aspects to life that cause disparities. gender is often a determinant of the amount of power one has over factors in their life, such as socioeconomic status and social position, and the stressors that go along with these factors. the location of genders and sex within the social construct can be a great determinant of risks and predictors of mental health disorders. these disparities in gender can correlate to the disparities in the types of mental health disorders that individuals have. while all genders and sexes are at risk of a large variety of mental health illnesses, some illnesses and disorders are more common among one sex than another. women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with forms of depression as depressive disorders account for close to 41.9% of the disability from neuropsychiatric disorders among women compared to 29.3% among men. on the other hand, men are three times more likely to be given a diagnosis of a social anxiety disorder than women. sex can also be a determinant of other aspects of mental health as well. the time of onset of symptoms can be different dependent on one's sex. women are more likely to show signs of mental illnesses, such as depression, earlier and at a younger age than men. many believe this to be a correlation with the onset time of puberty. as a result of social stigmas and stereotypes within society, women are also more likely to be prescribed mood-altering medications, whereas men are more likely to be prescribed medications for addictions. further research on the mental health disparities among sex and gender is needed in order to gain a deeper knowledge of the predictors of mental health and the possible differences in treatments. adult women are at a high risk of experiencing mental health disorders during their pregnancy, however, most physicians do not address this until the postpartum period. with anxiety and depression being the most common ones, these disorders can affect both the pregnant woman and the baby's life. the most common reasons for mental health disorders in this community were domestic abuse, fear of loneliness and previous medical history of mental disorders. the covid-19 pandemic was a difficult time for those who were pregnant as isolation, one of the main causes for anxiety and depression, was mandated. studies showed that during the pandemic, while the mental health of middle class pregnant women living in new york city improved, pregnant women living under a low socioeconomic status were more vulnerable to suffer from psychological disorders. current initiatives in achieving mental health equality because mental health inequality is largely due to disparities in health insurance, ways to improve mental health equity must come from changes in healthcare policies. much of mental health disparity comes from a lack of access to healthcare in low socioeconomic communities and, often, underprivileged minorities. this lack of access can arise from geographic isolation, poor funding and incentive for health care providers, inefficient health care coverage or highly stigmatized and discriminatory community attitudes surrounding mental health. also, changing the content of healthcare literature and education to include mental health is equally important. the united states has made strides to break down the stigmas surrounding mental health, but the rate of such stigma is currently still on the rise. potentially linked to such high stigma and miseducation, mental health is also still not considered to be a significant part of basic health care plans. in order for individuals to receive the treatment necessary for mental illness, it must be first acknowledged as a real, treatable illness. in may 2013, the world health assembly adopted a new action plan to address mental health over the following 8 years. this plan is called the comprehensive mental health action plan 2013-2020. this plan is an indicator of the global importance of mental health and includes goals for global mental health improvement. this plan also addresses mental health inequalities by acknowledging the need for greater access in low and middle-income countries. global mental health inequalities there is major inequality in the mental health field on a global scale, especially in developing countries. the number of people with a mental health condition is substantial, while clinicians are underappreciated and under resourced. around 30% of people globally suffer from a mental disorder in any given year, and more than two thirds of those individuals do not receive the necessary care. the most common mental health disorders globally are depression, alcohol and substance abuse, and psychosis. the consequences of mental health inequalities include unneeded suffering and premature death, increased stigma and marginalization, a lack of investment in mental health workforce and infrastructure and limited or no treatment for people suffering from these conditions. the burden of unmet mental health needs perpetuates a cycle of inequalities that impact a person’s overall health and wellbeing. many developing countries lack policies that address the basic needs and rights of people suffering from mental illnesses. according to research, patients in developing countries frequently leave hospitals without knowing their diagnosis or what medications they are taking, they wait too long for referrals, appointments, and treatment, and they are not respected or given adequate emotional support. there is astounding disparity that exists between the prevalence of mental problems around the world and the resources available for mental health. globally, only 2% of national budgets are devoted to mental health. due to a lack of finances and the ability to adequately treat their patients, some nations merely have warehouses to serve as hospitals where patients are isolated from the rest of society. the few psychiatric hospitals that do exist in developing countries are frequently overcrowded, understaffed, and may not offer the necessary level of care. most psychiatric hospitals are located in urban areas, away from family members, which increases social isolation and costs for families. integrating mental health into primary health care could help solve these problems on a global scale. adolescents mental health mental health is as an ongoing issue for adolescents. researchers claim that preventing mental health problems, which commonly start in adolescence, is both doable and necessary. schools have emerged as an target for involvement due to the high number of young people who experience mental health issues and the low number of those who have access to expensive and time-consuming therapies. studies have demonstrated that preventative programs that take place in clinics or other healthcare settings are more beneficial to teenagers, despite the possibility that they may be successful in schools. social media may be a valuable resource for young people who are socially isolated and who are struggling with mental health issues. but, especially in girls and underrepresented groups, social media use has also been related to sadness, suicide, and self-harm. smartphone by facilitating easier access to interventions and resources that have been scientifically proven effective as well as by simplifying some steps in the diagnostic, monitoring, and health indicators, digital technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way that services for young people with mental health issues are provided. there are many ways mental health can effects an adolescents directly and indirectly. lower grades, conflicts with parents and a lack of social relationship are few of the indirect ways a child can be effects. whereas, changes in mood states, is one sign of a direct effect of mental health on adolescents.