In 2008, July was designated as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Since then, this month has been dedicated to addressing mental health within minority communities and working towards reducing the stigma associated with mental illness.
This year, Mental Health America is paying tribute to author and advocate Bebe Moore Campbell by honoring her legacy.
Campbell's stories addressing racism, mental health, and family have greatly influenced the ongoing efforts to support mental health in Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities.
Mental health is crucial for emotional, psychological, and social well-being at every stage of life.
Minority groups, including Hispanic, Black, and Asian adults, are less likely to seek or receive mental health services compared to White adults.
This disparity is influenced by factors such as lack of health insurance, limited access to treatment, and social stigma.
Despite the increasing diversity of the U.S. population, systemic disparities in health and mental healthcare persist, driven by historical and ongoing racism and ethnic discrimination.
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities face unique challenges and are more likely to experience persistent mental illness compared to White populations.
Research suggests that the underdiagnosis of mental illness among people of color may be due to a lack of culturally sensitive screening tools and structural barriers.
In 2022, the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Diversity Interest Group hosted a STEM panel where women discussed their challenges and triumphs as minorities in STEM.
Kerrie Wilkins-Yel, an assistant professor of counseling and school psychology at UMass Boston, discussed how the inequities women of color face in STEM affect their mental health.
"Implicit is the understanding that there is mutual exclusivity between these groups, and if we see these groups as exclusive, we are also rendering invisible the voices and lived experiences of women of color," Wilkins-Yel said.
Wilkins-Yel has mentored many women in STEM fields and has experience working with marginalized groups.
She said barriers that led to mental health issues and decreased interest in STEM included the feeling of having to leave one's identity at the door, antagonistic relationships with advisors, gendered racism, and racial trauma.
According to Wilkins-Yel, educational institutions should address marginalized groups specifically to make a difference in the STEM environment.
Moderator Heleen van 't Spijker, a postdoctoral associate in molecular medicine, asked panelists to talk about a time they felt unwelcome in their field.
The panel responded with stories about times they were disappointed in their peers because they felt unwelcome in their professional environment.
Panelist Jean King, dean of arts and sciences at WPI, discussed the importance of communities supporting marginalized groups in order for them to succeed.
"Community is important, and as we think about our identities, we need community to persist. I found support here to do what I wanted," Dr. King said.
July is National #MinorityMentalHealthMonth. #AHRQ is focused on advancing research to improve mental health care for minority communities. Let's work together to break down barriers and ensure equity in mental health services. pic.twitter.com/FQg48xPW7d
— AHRQ (@AHRQNews) July 10, 2024
More than 50 million adults reported having a mental illness in 2020. 📈
— CMSGov (@CMSGov) July 11, 2024
This National Minority #MentalHealth Awareness Month, use #Coverage2Care resources like our behavioral health roadmap to help those you serve access the mental health care they need. https://t.co/IAm4jr8p8p pic.twitter.com/X1MvGhJXn3
July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month! This month focuses on improving access to mental health care, raising awareness of mental health issues among minorities, and enhancing services for those with severe mental health disorders. pic.twitter.com/QhUVtl3nnI
— American Psychiatric Association (@APApsychiatric) July 1, 2024
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month! ✊✊
— Asian American Psychological Association (@AAPAonline) July 8, 2024
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