According to statistics, African Americans are 20% more likely to experience mental illness. This is caused my many factors, poverty, homelessness, and exposure to violence..
African Americans have the highest poverty rate at 24.1 percent and this state of living can lead to mental problems. Living in an area where you constantly struggle to keep your head above water can give way to extensive depression and stress. Some African Americans can never get ahead financially whether its due to lack of education or drugs.
Homelessness can also lead to mental illnesses. Living in the streets can lead to lack of cleanliness, social and communication skills, while not receiving general care. All these can create a way of life that is led by depression, and paranoia. Living without protection will increase this paranoia and may create the idea that someone is out to get you.
Lastly, mental illness in the black community can be caused by exposure to violence. Areas that are poverty stricken tend to have a lot of violence. This violence can also lead to paranoia. Constant death and shootings around you can create the belief that life is short and death will come sooner for people of color than others.