Minority Mental Month Concludes....The Conversation Continues

July is minority mental health awareness month.  This month was created to bring awareness and education to the challenges minorities face in terms of mental illness in these United States. Mental illness has been and continues to be taboo.  It’s only discussed when it has to be and even then, there is lots of misinformation. For example, there’s this notion that in order for you to see a mental health professional, there has to be something wrong with you, that you aren't wrapped too tight, or that you're crazy.  

 A stigma exists with mental illness in general, but there seems to be greater stigma in minority populations. This stigma prevents people from seeking help, so people tend to suffer in silence. The idea behind this month is to increase awareness and normalize help seeking behaviors. We want to get the word out. We want to provide resources. So that, should you or someone you know be struggling with mental illness you know where to go.  As July comes to a close, the education and awareness continues.  A person can’t be helped if they don’t acknowledge that first something is wrong.  Listed below are resources, should you or someone you know need mental health services.

Therapy for Black Girls Directory- therapyforblackgirls.com

SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

The Harris Center for Mental Health- theharriscenter.org

Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective- beam.community

Therapy for Black Men- therapyforblackmen.org

Black Female Therapists- blackfemaletherapists.com