Spreading Awareness About Mental Health in BIPOC Communities

By Rachel Frye | Posted on July 1, 2024

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to highlight the unique strengths and challenges faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in relation to mental health.

Fear of judgment, cultural beliefs, generational differences and lack of access to resources often prevent people of color from addressing struggles openly and seeking the help they need.

“As black people, we tend to not talk about what we feel,” said Dr. Lakeia Jones, President, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer of AMRI Counseling Services. “Then it comes out in anger, hurt, frustration. That’s what people see, and you are labeled as crazy. No matter who you are, you are dealing with some sort of mental health issue.”

To overcome these barriers, it is essential to foster open and honest conversations about mental health. Breaking the silence is a crucial step toward healing and prioritizing mental wellness.

BEING OPEN ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

“I think we have to look at it like maintenance,” said Montreal Cain, founder and CEO of MERA Response Team. “When you think about the trauma we experience, it weighs on you. Using a car metaphor, our tire is getting lower and lower and lower. At what point do you say, ‘I don’t want this tire to become a blowout.’”

This July, Wellpoint Care Network encourages everyone to take steps towards improving mental health in BIPOC communities

“Mental health looks different for different people,” said Mary Brown, therapist at Wellpoint Care Network. “You can ask somebody if they have a mental health issue, and they may say no. But in reality, they are struggling. I think we have to start having conversations to open the idea of what mental health can look like.”

By sharing stories, listening to others and supporting one another, we can create a more inclusive and understanding environment where mental health is prioritized for everyone.

“Getting mental health support is often not even a consideration for people who need it most,” said Michaela Ramos, CEO of Calm Change. “It’s often not a thing people think about it. People often say, ‘Pray about it’ or ‘You got this.’ In those words of encouragement, ‘Go see a therapist’ is not even something that is said because it’s not something people do. We must change that.”

The Statistics Are Staggering

It’s been proven that individuals are more likely to seek out help from someone that looks like them. Yet only four percent of therapists in the United States are African American. Of that four percent, only one percent are black males.

“If I’m honest, that stat used to scare me because it felt like pressure,” said Cedric Dale Hoard, licensed professional therapist at Christian Life Counseling. “But I’ve realized that it’s so important to be in the one percent. Think about all the work that you can do within that one percent.”

Because representation is so important, a push continues to get more young African American students interested in pursuing a career as a therapist.

“When I was growing up, I didn’t think that I could even do this,” said Dr. Lia Knox of Black Space HQ. “I had guidance counselors, I had teachers that said, ‘You’ll be a wonderful musician. You’d be so good at doing makeup. You’d be really good at some other careers.’ But, there was one person in my life that I looked up to and I wanted to be like her. So, that’s the reason why I’m here — because you can do this.”

The quotes in this story were taken from previous panels hosted by Wellpoint Care Network focused on the topic of Black Mental Health.