Each year in July, we celebrate National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to bring awareness to the unique struggles that affect Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals nationwide. Mental health illnesses affect the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of children and adults regardless of their culture, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation.
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month hopes to bring awareness to educate individuals about mental health issues and reduce prejudice, stigma, and unfair inequities. Some of the critical issues that affect multicultural communities and the barriers they face impact their mental health and well-being.
These critical issues and barriers must be taken into consideration and integrated into treatment plans to help overcome long-term mental health issues for the BIPOC community. As such, this article aims to educate individuals about how National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month started, why it is important, and how we can help spread awareness.
How National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Started
In June 2008, Congress recognized the month of July as the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Bebe Moore Campbell was an American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate. She was the co-founder of the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) in Urban Los Angeles. In 2005, longtime friend Linda Wharton-Boyd suggested dedicating a month to the effort of minority mental health to provide education and support among the individuals of BIPOC communities.
As part of the effort, Campbell and Wharton-Boyd worked together to outline the concept of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and what it would entail. She started to educate and encourage individuals in the community to receive mental health checkups. Campbell worked tirelessly to provide multicultural and multilingual mental health education and resources to the BIPOC community until she passed away in 2006.
“Once my loved one accepted the diagnosis, healing began for the entire family, but it took too long. It took years. Can’t we, as a nation, begin to speed up that process? We need a national campaign to destigmatize mental illness, especially one targeted toward African Americans. The message must go on billboards and in radio and TV public service announcements. It must be preached from pulpits and discussed in community forums. It’s not shameful to have a mental illness. Get treatment. Recovery is possible.” – Bebe Moore Campbell
Bebe Moore Campbell inspired this movement to erase mental health stigma and create support between mental health and diagnosis in BIPOC communities.
Why is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Important
By observing National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, we help destigmatize mental health issues by fighting misinformation so those in the BIPOC community who struggle don’t feel left out and seek out mental health care treatment.
According to a survey completed by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), there are mental health disparities among diverse populations, and people from racial/ethnic minority groups are less likely to receive mental health care. The survey showed that some of the critical issues multicultural and multilingual communities face include the following:
- Less access to treatment, diversity among mental health providers, or distrust in the treatment plan
- Less likely to receive treatment
- Poorer quality of care
- Higher levels of mental illness stigma
- Culturally insensitive health care system
- Racism, bias, homophobia, or discrimination in treatment settings
- Cultural and language barriers
- Lower rates or lack of health insurance
These critical issues have multiple negative consequences affecting mental health in BIPOC individuals in the long term. According to the APA, these negative consequences include underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of mental illness that leads individuals to discontinue mental health care treatment. Some do not even receive treatment. The APA survey indicated that racial/ethnic minority youth with behavioral health issues are turned to the juvenile justice system rather than specialty primary care. According to Underwood and Washington, “approximately 50% to 75% of youth in the juvenile justice system meet criteria for a mental health disorder.”
This is why it is important to educate and create awareness during National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to help reduce prejudice, stigma, and unfair inequities in BIPOC communities.
How to Observe National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
You can observe National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month by promoting mental health equity, helping and encouraging someone who needs mental health care, donating and volunteering with programs or organizations, and being kind to others.
Promote Diversity and Mental Health Equity
You can stay up to date with information about the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month through its Facebook Page. Another option is to use social media platforms to share awareness using the hashtags #minoritymentalhealth, #MMHAM, #NotAlone, and #Together4MH.
Furthermore, you can participate in the Mental Health America (MHA) 2022 campaign for minority mental health awareness with this year’s theme “Beyond the Numbers” and use the hashtag #beyondthenumbers. NAMI and MHA have awareness resources, images, and graphics you can share.
Help and Encourage Someone Who Needs Mental Health Care
You can pay attention to the warning signs that someone may need mental health help, including trying to harm themselves, feeling sad or withdrawn, severe mood swings, substance abuse, drastic changes in behavior, and intense worries or fear. Let them know there is hope and that recovery is possible. Some of the ways you can help include talking with a doctor, getting a referral for a mental health care specialist, and connecting with other families.
To learn more about warning mental health signs, read our post Recognizing Signs of Mental Illness in Loved Ones and What Steps to Take.
Donate or Volunteer
Some organizations devote their time to research, positive development and serving diverse populations, including the Search Institute and The Foundation Center. The American Psychiatric Association also promotes mental health equity, and you can explore some of the activities, programs, and initiatives.
Be Kind
Practice being kind to others and your BIPOC community. Consider reading some of Bebe Moore Campbell’s books, such as “What You Owe Me,” “Singing in the Comeback Choir,” “Sweet Summer: Growing Up With and Without My Dad,” “I Get So Hungry,” “72 Hour Hold,” or “Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry.”
At Alvarado Parkway Institute, we believe in minority mental health and prioritize mental health all year long. If you’re struggling with your mental health, we are always here to help. Our mission is to help clients understand their illness and help them manage their symptoms with individualized and comprehensive care.
Remember, you don’t have to struggle alone. We can help and recovery is possible. Call our 24-hour crisis line at (619) 333-7050 at any time.
Sources:
- https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-Diverse-Populations.pdf
- Underwood, LA, and Washington, A. Mental Illness and Juvenile Offenders. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016 Feb; 13(2): 228.
