Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a complex auto-inflammatory disease that can lead to serious effects on your body. This chronic skin condition can cause the development of nodules and abscesses in areas like the groin, armpits, thighs, buttocks, and breasts.
No matter where HS appears or how severe it is, the condition can be physically challenging. However, pain and disfigurement aren’t the only hurdles people face.
Researchers are beginning to examine how HS impacts a person’s quality of life, particularly their mental well-being.
Links between HS and mental health
A study from 2020 suggests that chronic inflammatory skin disorders like HS might be linked to psychiatric comorbidities.
Though there are limited data on HS and mental health issues, this study suggests a connection between the condition and disorders such as:
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Personality disorders
Still, more research is necessary to fully grasp these relationships. While HS is relatively uncommon, it’s not rare. The precise prevalence of HS is unknown, but researchers do know that it disproportionately affects certain groups.
In Europe and the United States, research estimates that HS might affect anywhere from 0.00033 percent to 4.1 percent of the population. To break this down further, around 0.10 percent of the U.S. population is impacted, which equates to 98 out of every 100,000 individuals. The rate is even higher among women, African Americans, and biracial Americans. However, even though African Americans are disproportionately affected by HS, there’s very little data on Black individuals with HS accessing mental health services.
Dr. Angelique Andrews, Ph.D., CWP, CHWC, from Wellness Consultants of Atlanta LLC, emphasizes the need for researchers to better understand all the psychosocial and biological factors involved in living with HS. More specifically, researchers should explore how these factors can affect the Black community when dealing with healthcare and psychology.
“The [African American] population hasn’t been given enough attention when it comes to examining these three variables [HS, mental health, and race] to uncover more about causation and correlation,” Andrews explains.
“We need more researchers who are genuinely interested in understanding how to treat People of Color, particularly African Americans. What are their needs? What does their socio-economic status look like? Do they have food insecurity?” she adds.
Barriers Preventing Seeking Mental Health Help
There are multiple reasons why individuals dealing with HS find it tough to seek mental health support. This may include feelings of shame, embarrassment, and limited resources.
For People of Color, these challenges can be even more pronounced due to historical and systemic factors. Such factors can lead members of these communities to suffer from mental health issues in silence. According to a 2021 report from the Census Bureau that analyzed data from 2020, around 18.3 percent of Hispanic individuals were without health insurance, followed by 10.4 percent of Black Americans. This is in contrast to 5.4 percent of non-Hispanic white Americans. While government-assisted programs do exist, health coverage often comes through employment, and unemployment rates and poverty tend to be higher among these groups. As of 2018, over 1 in 5 Black and African American individuals were living in poverty, often with limited or no access to mental health services.
In addition to economic factors, systemic inequalities, and historical racism also play a significant role. When compared to white individuals displaying similar symptoms, Black and African American people are more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and less likely to be diagnosed with mood disorders. This kind of historical racism has led to mistrust of medical professionals among People of Color.
Cultural stigmas also contribute to the hesitation in seeking mental health assistance. Andrews notes that Black individuals might avoid mental health treatment due to the misconception that seeing a counselor or psychologist means being “insane” or “crazy.”
“They feel that seeking help might bring shame to their family and themselves. We often shy away from it because we have a history of being strong and proud people,” explains Andrews.
Resources for Getting Support
Despite these barriers, People of Color do have some resources available to them.
For instance, the HS Foundation offers a section where individuals can locate an HS specialist in their vicinity. These specialists may provide referrals to therapists who specialize in HS and mental health or chronic illnesses in general.
HS Connect is another resource managed by individuals living with HS. It provides valuable information on topics like finding a psychologist and navigating the complexities of the healthcare system, along with dealing with insurance challenges and understanding which procedures and treatments to request.
Joining online communities can also provide support. Some examples include:
- Hope for HS
- HS Fight Club Co.
- HS Heroes
- My Gold Lining Inc.
Following advocates and health and wellness influencers on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok can also be beneficial. Often, social media helps individuals feel less isolated in their experiences.
“Social media makes it easy for people to connect and find others like them,” Andrews notes. “Within those support groups, stigmas fade away… they see fellow People of Color who share the same socio-economic status, religion, and sexual orientation. There’s a strong sense of support and shared knowledge.”
In Conclusion,
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has an impact on both your body and mind. Although not very common, it has a greater impact on African Americans and biracial Americans.
These groups encounter obstacles in getting care, especially for their mental health, due to issues like stigma and systemic racism. However, there are resources available, whether online or through mental health experts.