Disabled Individuals and Structural Trauma: Implications for Mental Health Providers

Nearly 61 million Americans, or approximately one of every five individuals in the United States, lives with a disability. For being such a substantial part of the population, the attention given to this group's needs in psychiatric training is inadequate. “Ableism” (ie, practices and/or beliefs that devalue people with disabilities) is often the forgotten “ism” and is frequently omitted from discussions regarding inclusion. Disabilities are a part of the diversity of human experience, yet individuals with disabilities are at risk of being inadequately served by societal systems, including inequities in their experience with mental health care. In traditional medical training (be it medical school or osteopathic school), residency, fellowship, and continuing medical education classes, instruction regarding the disability system (ie, services available to those living with disabilities) is often lacking despite its relevance in informing comprehensive treatment plans for affected individuals. This article defines the goals of the disability system and then explores some of the drivers of mental health care inequities for people living with disabilities. It also discusses some practical implications of creating clinical environments and providing care for these individuals. [Psychiatr Ann. 2021;51(11):513–515.]