BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month and Resources
Since 2008, the month of July is known to be Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. It has also been recognized as Black, Indeginous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month. This month is an opportunity to open the conversation to the mental health issues, stigma, and cultural barriers that individuals within the BIPOC community face.
Unfortunately, it is common for BIPOC individuals to experience more racism, bigotry, lack of resources, and denial of necessary healthcare services. For BIPOC individuals who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, there is a higher prevalence of mental health issues. For instance, the Trevor Project’s annual mental health survey from 2022 found that 56% of white individuals experienced depression compared to 70% of native/indigenous, 57% black, and 55% Asian American and Pacific Islander (The Trevor Project, 2022). There is also a wide gap in BIPOC providers who offer mental health services. A 2015 American Psychological Association report shares that 86% of psychologists in the U.S. were white, while only 5% were Asian, 5% Hispanic, 4% Black, and 1% multiracial (Laurel, 2022). Although that number is starting to change, it is not a surprise that these minority groups face such mental health struggles.
Thankfully, there are a lot of great resources coming out for each community. The Divergence Mental Health Group is proud to offer mental health resources and psychotherapy to the community through BIPOC clinicians that come from diverse backgrounds to support clients of color.
We have compiled a list of online resources and organizations below:
The BIPOC Project: An organization that aims to build authentic and lasting solidarity among BIPOC individuals in order to undo Native invisibility, anti-Blackness, dismantle white supremacy and advance racial justice
https://www.thebipocproject.org/
The Mental Health Coalition compiled a great list of resources for BIPOC individuals:
Black and African American
Black and African American Communities:
Black Virtual Wellness Directory:
https://wellness.beam.community/
Mental Health Resources and Apps Supporting Black Americans:
https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/black-mental-health-resources-apps
Addiction in the BIPOC Community:
https://bocarecoverycenter.com/addiction/bipoc-community/
Asian American and Pacific Islander
Asian American Health Initiative
https://aahiinfo.org/aahi-resources/
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has an amazing list of resources for AAPI community:
https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Resource_Libraries/AAPI_Resources.aspx
Native American and Indigenous
One Sky Center - Has “Find a Therapist” page
We R Native - Online forum for Native youth by Native youth
Two Spirit LGBTQ - Portland based
https://www.npaihb.org/2slgbtq/
Latinx
The National Alliance for Hispanic Health
https://www.healthyamericas.org/
Helplines:
National Suicide and Crisis line: 988
Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-8255
BlackLine: 1-800-604-5841
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine: 1-800-950-NAMI
StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483)
National Domestic Violence Hotline for Native Peoples (1-844-762-8483) or online chat at strongheartshelpline.org.
The Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860
References
2022 national survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health. The Trevor Project. (2022). https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022
Bebe Moore Campbell minority mental health month. NAMI California. (2021, July 1). https://namica.org/bebe-moore-campbell-minority-mental-health-month/#:~:text=illness%20among%20minorities.-,About%20Bebe%20Moore%20Campbell,she%20passed%20away%20in%202006.
Bipoc Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health America of Putnam County. (2020, July 22). http://www.mhaopc.org/bipoc-mental-health-awareness-month/
Black Virtual Wellness Directory. BEAM. (n.d.). https://wellness.beam.community/
Home. StrongHearts Native Helpline. (n.d.). https://strongheartshelpline.org/
“Home.” We R Native, www.wernative.org/.
Katie Kottemann, M. (2023, February 21). Mental Health Resources for the BIPOC community. Innerbody. https://www.innerbody.com/mental-health-resources-for-bipoc
Laurel, A. M. (2022, February 4). 8 mental health apps & resources supporting black americans. Good Good Good. https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/black-mental-health-resources-apps
Mental Health Coalition. (n.d.). BIPIC Mental Health Resources.
“One Sky Center |.” Www.oneskycenter.org, www.oneskycenter.org/.
Two Spirit LGBTQ – NPAIHB. www.npaihb.org/2slgbtq/.
“Washington, DC | National Alliance for Hispanic Health | COVID-19.” Healthyamericas, www.healthyamericas.org/.
