Use of Technology to Provide Mental Health Care for Racial and Ethnic Minorities: Evidence, Promise, and Challenges

Mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities (R&EM) are well documented. Some of the variables driving these disparities are limited care availability, difficulty accessing services, and attitudinal barriers. Although no single approach will eliminate all these obstacles, the use of technology to provide mental health services represents a paradigmatic shift in care delivery that could reduce unmet mental health need. Despite increasing evidence supporting the feasibility and efficacy of behavioral intervention technologies (BITs), such evidence is more limited among R&EM. For BITs to truly reduce disparities in care, these interventions need to overcome common barriers to treatment that disproportionally affect R&EM. This article reviews the empirical support of different BIT modalities with R&EM. We then provide informed clinical recommendations for the use of BITs with these groups, as well as a case example illustrating these guidelines. We conclude this article by discussing future directions that can inform the development and refinement of BIT approaches for R&EM.