Minority Mental Health Month
July is minority mental health awareness month. We celebrate the gains in mental health awareness while acknowledging that we still have a long way to go to improve mental health equity and accessibility in minority communities.
Studies show that Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) factors, which include the environments where people live, work, learn, play and age, contribute to these mental health disparities. In the US, Black, Native American, Asian, LGBTQ+, refugee communities and folks with disabilities continue to encounter barriers that exacerbate these disparities, contributing to the decline of their psychological health.
What we can do
There are many ways we can contribute to minority mental health, directly or indirectly:
- Donate to organizations like The Loveland Foundation, which helps people of color pay for their therapy sessions.
- Support The Trevor Project, who provide non judgmental crisis counseling, mental health support and connection to resources for LGBTQ+ youth.
- Get involved with humanitarian organizations like the IRC and Catholic Charities that help refugees settle into their new countries.
- Volunteer at a pantry or community garden in an inner city or participate in a neighborhood clean up.
- Spend time with elders and advocate for their health. Elders from racial and ethnic minority groups are less likely to receive proper mental and physical health care and may have undiagnosed and untreated conditions that make them vulnerable to mental illness.
- Read and play with children. Tending to the emotional well being of our children in those critical early years lowers their risk for depression, substance use and suicidality later on.
Our mental health improves when we live in safe, healthy, caring communities. We all have a part in this.
Crisis numbers
1-800-662-HELP (4357) SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families with mental and/or substance use disorders.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Free and confidential crisis support via call, text or chat with a trained crisis counselor for people who are in emotional distress or have suicidal thoughts.