While anyone may endure mental health struggles, factors like culture, race, gender, or sexual orientation may affect access to treatment, resources, support, and quality of care for those who are part of a minority. July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, during which people raise awareness of the unique endeavors that racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities face concerning mental health in the U.S.
Rates of depression are lower among Black people (24.6%) and Hispanics (19.6%) than white people (34.7%), but depression in Black people and Hispanics is more likely to be persistent. Since 2008, when July was first declared as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, this month is a time to recognize unique issues regarding mental health and substance use disorders among minority communities, and to destigmatize mental illness amongst minority groups. Here are seven organizations breaking the stigma between minorities and mental health.
- Black Girls Smile
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Black Girls Smile is a leading organization prioritizing Black female mental wellness. Their mission is to offer “education, resources, and support” to Black women to help them live “mentally healthy lives.” Their mission is rooted in “research, focus group findings, and personal experiences,” illuminating the under-served and underrepresented mental health necessities of young Black women. Black Girls Smile strives towards a world in which Black women and all people receive educational support and resources required to live “mentally healthy” through the normalization and rhetoric of mental wellness.
- Therapy for Latinx
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Therapy for Latinx is an online database making mental health professionals more accessible to Latinx people in their own communities. If you’re seeking a therapist, you may search their database by state or keywords. Therapy for Latinx is for both mental health professionals and those seeking help. Resources are also available in both English and Spanish, and in partnership with Mental Health America, they provide free online mental health screenings. Follow them on Instagram @therapyforlatinx.
- Mental Health America
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Founded in 1909, Mental Health America is the leading community-based nonprofit of the U.S. devoted to tackling the needs of those enduring mental illness and to advancing the overall mental health of everybody. Their work is led by its dedication to promote mental health as a vital factor to one’s overall well-being. This includes prevention services, early identification and intervention, and integrated care, services, and supports with recovery as the goal.
- Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
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The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum affects policy, incites communities, and betters programs and organizations to enhance the health of Asian Americans, Natie Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. They are the oldest and largest health advocacy organization collaborating with Asian American and Ntive Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities across the U.S., in American territories, and with the U.S.-affiliated Pacific jurisdictions. The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum imagines a world in which everyone shares responsibility and takes action to make sure communities remain “healthy and vibrant” for current and future generations.
- The Trevor Project
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The Trevor Project aims to end suicide among young members of the LGBTQ+ community, and they envision a world where all LGBTQ+ individuals envision a bright future for themselves. With a goal to serve 1.8 million crisis contacts yearly by the end of their 25th year, they have implemented programs like crisis services, peer support, research, public education, and advocacy. “Diversity and inclusion, youth-centricity, growth, quality, innovation, and best-in-class team” are their guiding principles that assist them to make important decisions regarding things like programs, campaigns, events and staffing.
- Center for Native American Youth
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With the goal to garner “greater national attention to the issues facing Native American youth, and to foster solutions, with special emphasis on youth suicide prevention,” the Center for Native American Youth thinks that all Native American youth should live full, healthy lives, have equal access to opportunities and gain strength and power from both their culture and each other. They work as a policy program to better the health, safety, and overall well-being of Native American youth using “youth recognition, inspiration and leadership; research, advocacy, and policy change; and by serving as a national resource exchange.”
- Womencare Counseling and Training Center
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Womencare has been a leader for over three decades in treating traumatic stress offering an array of therapies, trainings, and resources to uplift the people, professionals, and communities that they serve. Womencare supports adults, adolescents, couples, families, and communities within a relational model during times of trauma, loss and life transitions. Their relational approach to therapy embraces people from all identities and aims to found relationships upon mutuality, empowerment and respect. Their therapists are experts in areas like traumatic stress, grief, sexuality, adolescent development, and mind/body integration, and they are experienced clinicians.