Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month
Growing up in a Mexican household, mental health and emotions was not a topic that was often spoken about. I’ve come to realize throughout the years, by having conversations with others, that it wasn’t only the household that I grew up in that didn’t often talk about mental health; but other households as well, in specific households of those that identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). Through such conversations, personal experiences, and research I’ve come to find out that one of the reasons for the lack of conversations about mental health in our households is due to the beliefs and stigma surrounding mental health. For example, in some households talking about your emotions seems like a weakness rather than a strength, and in the Latinx community the phrase “eso es cosa para locos” (“that is only for crazy people”) is sometimes said when referring to therapy. Such beliefs and stigma surrounding mental health makes it harder for individuals to seek out the necessary services when they are struggling with mental health. Then when BIPOC individuals do seek the necessary services they come across obstacles like the community they live in not offering such services or the services are not affordable for them.
Research shows that individuals livings in BIPOC communities are significantly more likely to develop mental health conditions and the impact of mental health or substance use may be longer-lasting than in predominantly white communities. Due to such research, the stigma surrounding mental health and lack of services in BIPOC communities, Bebe Moore Campbell became an advocate to destigmatize mental health and make mental health facilities accessible for everyone. Campbell along with her friend Linda Wharton-Boyd worked together to develop the concept of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and what it would entail. In May of 2008, the US House of Representatives announced July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to achieve the goals to improve access to mental health treatment and services and to enhance public awareness of mental health among minorities. The theme for 2022 is Beyond the Numbers due to numbers not telling the whole story, instead numbers give us a broad view that misses the deeper and individual context. The purpose of Beyond The Numbers is to shine light on the unique needs, stories, and experiences of BIPOC communities.
To give BIPOC Communities the support they deserve and to better promote mental wellness within these communities Mental Health America created a list of actions providers and organizations can take. Some tips included in the list are:
Fund and encourage the diverse recruitment and training of culturally responsive BIPOC mental health practitioners.
Utilize the expertise of community resources and relationships in BIPOC communities to inform practices and policies around wellness.
Learn about the individual’s experiences and cultural perspectives. Understand that they are the experts of their own life and listen to their needs and desires.
Translate material into languages that clients can understand.
Aim to be culturally responsive and culturally humble – not culturally competent.
Tips for other individuals to support BIPOC communities include:
Advocating for the rights of BIPOC communities such as reparations, stronger systemic support, and laws and policies that directly impact BIPOC Communities.
Learn about the BIPOC experiences and cultural perspectives.
Donate to organizations that provide services to BIPOC communities.
Written by
Lizbeth Rios, MSW
Therapist at Mutual Ground
Sources
https://www.mhanational.org/BIPOC-mental-health-month
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Bebe-Moore-Campbell-National-Minority-Mental-Health-Awareness-Month/Learn-About-Bebe-Moore-Campbell-National-Minority-Mental-Health-Awareness-Month
https://mhanational.org/sites/default/files/2022-06/2022-BIPOC-MHM-Toolkit.pdf