July is Minority Mental Health Month
Bebe Moore Campbell, founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Urban Los Angeles chapter, said in 2005, “Once my loved ones accepted [my] 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… It’s not shameful to have a mental illness. Get treatment. Recovery is possible.”
According to NAMI, Campbell was a champion for mental health education and support among individuals of diverse communities. A leading African American author, she co-founded NAMI Urban Los Angeles and received NAMI’s 2003 Outstanding Media Award for Literature. She died in 2006. To honor her legacy, in 2008, the United States House of Representatives announced July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Multicultural communities often face unique issues when getting care for mental health. This NAMI infographic highlights how culture can affect mental health and the ability to get care. NAMI also provides this PDF to help you find a Culturally Competent Provider [PDF].
Mental Health America also offers information about the unique and considerable challenges faced by communities of color in accessing mental health services, along with several great resources linked below.
African American Communities and Mental Health
Native American Communities and Mental Health
Latino/Hispanic Communities and Mental Health
Asian American/Pacific Islander Communities and Mental Health
Throughout the month of July we will be posting about Minority Mental Health on Facebook and Twitter. Join the conversation with #MinorityMentalHealth.
