STereotypes against poc
POC, especially black people, are often perceived as aggressive. When they show symptoms of disorders that can come off as "aggressive" behaviors, such as bipolar disorder or PTSD, it can be ignored because of these stereotypes. Younger children of color are also sometimes perceived as disruptive. As Dr. Christian-Brathwaite described, many black children in school get punished for things their white classmates get treatment for, preventing them from getting the help they need. When elementary school teachers look for signs of ADHD and autism in their students, they sometimes consider children of color. Even when they're not aware, internalized biases change how they treat children of color who may be showing symptoms.
Stereotypes against women
One of the oldest stereotypes is that women are more emotional than men. People often still view women as complainers. Because of this, many women struggle to get medical professionals of all kinds to believe them about their symptoms or experiences. When it comes to physical and mental health issues, the first thought is generally hormones or them being overdramatic. These stereotypes cause women to be ignored in their worries. Another issue is that many women with ADHD or autism tend to seem quiet and shy, another old stereotype. Symptoms can appear different in young girls compared to young boys. Therefore, when someone's ideas about ADHD is someone with a lot of energy, and they see a girl with ADHD simply staring out a window, lost in thought, they don't always realize that the girl could be showing symptoms as well.
The connection to mental health
When people, including mental health professionals, have these assumptions, even subconsciously, it affects how they interact with that group. Everyone has implicit biases, and when it's a mental health professional and a patient it can impact their treatment. There are situations where professionals dismiss concerns because of their own biases and the effect on a patient can be serious. It's necessary to examine these assumptions in order to understand them and how to prevent them.