Race-gender Disparities in the Criminalization and Medicalization of Mental Illness

Abstract

How does race-gender status shape the medicalization and criminalization of those with mental illness? Using data from the 2022 wave of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, I examine the associations between mental illness and arrest versus mental health treatment, and how these associations vary by race-gender status. I find significant patterns of difference among Black, Hispanic, and White men and women. Having mental illness is significantly, positively associated with arrest for all groups, however the magnitude of this relationship is statistically greater for Hispanic men. In addition, Hispanic men, along with Black men, have the smallest associations between mental illness and mental health treatment. Conversely, White women have the highest probability of mental health treatment compared to other race-gender groups, and the lowest probability of arrest. This pattern suggests Black and Hispanic men are disproportionately criminalized for their mental illness compared to other race-gender groups, while White women are most often medicalized. I discuss the implications of these findings and offer suggestions for future research.