July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.

By: Kiera Green, R.O.S.E.S., Inc. Social Media Intern

In 2008, July was officially declared Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. The month was created to raise awareness of the unique mental health struggles that affect underrepresented communities. Bebe Moore Campbell was an important mental health advocate for the Black community as a teacher, journalist, and author. Campbell stated, “Stigma is one of the main reasons why people with mental health problems don't seek treatment or take their medication.” She additionally shared, "People of color, particularly African Americans, feel the stigma more keenly. In a race-conscious society, some don't want to be perceived as having yet another deficit.” This statement perfectly describes the unique challenges that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities face in regard to mental health.

Not only is lack of access a barrier for BIPOC to receive mental health resources but also the stigma surrounding mental health challenges. This stigma may cause individuals to shy away from asking for help and may be particularly prominent in specific cultures. According to Mental Health America, “Blacks and African Americans believe that mild depression or anxiety would be considered “crazy” in their social circles. Furthermore, many believe that discussions about mental illness would not be appropriate even among families.” This mindset can limit the opportunity for certain communities to receive the help they need as they feel they do not have safe spaces to discuss struggles with mental health.

As an organization, one of our three goals is to “diminish the stigma preventing emotional and psychological healing through consistent, credible blog and social media dialogue.” As an organization, we strive to provide educational resources to inform the public about the reality of mental health. By increasing the dialogue surrounding this issue, R.O.S.E.S., Inc. hopes to encourage further discussion on mental health and normalize mental health struggles in people from all walks of life.