National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each year in July to shed light on the struggles that are racial and ethnic towards minority communities regarding mental and behavioral health in the United States. This would not be possible without the help of Bebe Moore Campbell, who inspired others with her stance against mental health struggles with minorities.
Bebe Moore Campbell(February 18, 1950 - November 27, 2006) worked endlessly to raise awareness of the mental health issues faced within black and indigenous communities and other underrepresented groups. With the help of others, they devoted their time to expressing the importance of mental health. They worked to provide the resources, support, and education needed to overcome barriers that prevented BIPOC from succeeding in society. In May 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives announced July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Statistics:
Over 60 million Americans suffer from mental health conditions in a year. Many individuals are African American, Hispanic, Asian American, or part of another minority population. Below you can find more statistics and resources regarding minority mental health.
17% (6.8 million) of Black and African American people reported having a mental illness, and 22.4% of those (1.1 million people) reported a serious mental illness over the past year.
15% of Latinx/Hispanic Americans have a mental illness.
13% of Asian Americans have a mental illness.
23% of Native Americans/Alaskan Natives have a mental illness.
25% of people who identify as being two or more races have a mental illness.
37% of Individuals who Identify as LGBTQ+ have a mental illness.
Tips:
Connecting with individuals from differing cultures and experiences is important. Below are ways to show support and bring awareness to minorities and their mental health.
Take time to learn: Online resources, books, and documentaries can help others understand more about different cultures and how mental health impacts them.
Respect the person’s culture: When you are talking or listening to someone of a different culture, show an attitude of acceptance and respect the person’s feelings, culture, personal values, and experiences, even if they are different from your own or disagree with them.
Ask questions: If you have questions or don’t understand something. Instead of making assumptions, respectfully ask questions that show you genuinely care and want to understand.
Focus on recovery and well-being: When interacting with someone struggling with mental health challenges, focus on these topics and encourage them to pursue their journey to recovery within their cultural practices.
What We Do:
Here at The Center, we believe everyone should have the proper services and resources available to support mental health. The Center has a diverse staff of professionals willing to listen and help. We provide free and confidential services to survivors of sexual violence. These free services include individual counseling, support group counseling, medical and court advocacy, a 24/7 crisis hotline, and community education and training. By educating individuals about the severity of these issues, we can lower the statistics and help those in our community reach the proper services and treatments. For more information on services and resources, please visit:
The Center for Sexual Assault Survivors:
Crisis Hotline:
757-236-526
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:
By calling or texting 988
Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board:
Emergency and Crisis Services:
757-788-0011
Peer Warm-line:
757-251-2394
References:
