Observing Bebe Moore Campbell Minority Mental Health Month (MMHM)

"As I grow older, part of my emotional survival plan must be to actively seek inspiration instead of passively waiting for it to find me." –Bebe Moore Campbell

Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (MMHM) occurs every July in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, an author, advocate, and co-founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The month highlights the unique mental health challenges faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities. As a Black woman and an activist, Campbell was passionate about the mental health of minorities, as she personally experienced difficulty in finding vital mental health resources for her and her family. Read on for more information about the history of this observance as well as an overview of the unique mental health challenges various minority groups may face.

The history of minority mental health awareness month 

Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was founded in 2008 and has been officially recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives. It takes place in July each year and aims to expand minority availability of mental health resources and promote mental health awareness related to challenges often associated with belonging to various minority communities. 

The month was named in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, an author, activist, teacher, mental health advocate, and co-founder of NAMI Urban Los Angeles. She outlined the month and what it might entail in 2005 with her friend Linda Wharton-Boyd. She then created her own task force to start celebrating it and promote public awareness within her community. Campbell served as a prominent national spokesperson, advocating for mental health care and raising awareness among diverse communities. Her efforts aimed to provide mental health information and resources to those impacted by the public health crisis. NAMI named Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in Campbell’s honor after she died of cancer in 2006. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states, “In 2005, inspired by Campbell’s charge to end stigma and provide mental health information, her longtime friend, Linda Wharton-Boyd, suggested dedicating a month to the effort. In November 2006, Campbell lost her battle to cancer. Wharton-Boyd, friends, family and allied advocates reignited their cause, inspired by the passion of an extraordinary woman.”

In a NAMI press release to celebrate Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. stated, “It is essential for culture and identity to be a part of the mental health care conversation.” To this end, NAMI aims to further the work done by Bebe Moore Campbell to advocate for mental health care for people of diverse cultures.

How to celebrate this month and end the stigma surrounding mental illness 

If you identify as a minority, you might celebrate the month by spending time with your community, advocating for mental health resources for your community, or attending an activism event. If you are not a member of a minority group, you may decide to celebrate this month by amplifying the voices of those who are, helping push helpful mental health care infrastructure legislation for minorities, and educating yourself on the unique mental health needs of those in other communities.

Unique minority mental health needs

Statistics and needs in terms of mental health often tend to differ among minority communities as compared to the general population. Minorities and underrepresented communities may also be less likely to receive quality mental health treatment than others. The following are a few statistics that outline these differences: 

• 31% of Black and Hispanic/Latinx individuals and 22% of Asian individuals received mental healthcare in the U.S. in 2015, compared to 48% of white individuals. 
• Transgender people experience higher rates of discrimination in mental healthcare, attempted suicides, and self-esteem issues.*
• Women who reach out for mental health support may experience sexism— especially if they are women of color, who may also experience racism when seeking healthcare.

Below, you can learn more about the unique mental health challenges that certain, specific minority communities often face, including barriers to treatment and poorer health outcomes. It’s important to note that being a member of one of these minority communities does not inherently correlate with these issues, but the lived experiences of discrimination and racial trauma often associated with society’s treatment of them do. Raising awareness for these topics can help affect positive change, enhance public awareness, eliminate stigma, and promote more widespread availability of necessary mental health resources for all.

BIPOC 

Mental Health America reports the following numbers on how many Black individuals, Indigenous people, and people of color (BIPOC) have been diagnosed with a mental health condition: 

• 6.8 million Black individuals/African Americans
• 8.9 million Latinx/Hispanic Americans 
• 2.2 million Asian Americans 
• 830,000 Native Americans/Alaska Natives 
• 25% of multiracial individuals

They also said that those who identify as two or more races are the most likely of any racial or ethnic group to experience mental illness or distressing symptoms. In addition, they found that BIPOC individuals tended to receive less availability of treatment in general due to language barriers, racism, sexism, and xenophobia. 

Equal availability of mental health care can include the following: 

• Interventions for native language support and translation 
• Availability of providers with cultural- and trauma-informed education 
• Anti-racism training for providers
• Support for BIPOC women and LGBTQ+ individuals in particular
• Culturally based practices
• Studies led by BIPOC researchers and providers 

Women and gender minorities 

Women and gender minorities may experience sexism and discrimination in the mental healthcare system based on their gender or gender expression. Statistically, women also face higher levels of intimate partner violence, assault, and harassment than men. In these cases, mental healthcare can be essential for healing, and women are likely to benefit most from nondiscriminatory, compassionate, and trauma-informed care.

Non-binary and transgender individuals may also face gender-based discrimination when it comes to seeking mental healthcare or mental health education. Such experiences can significantly impact quality of care and may even prevent some individuals with mental health vulnerabilities from seeking care at all. In one study, for example, high levels of discrimination were associated with greater odds of psychological stress and suicidal thoughts in trans-identifying people, especially in those who also identify as people of color.

If you are experiencing or witnessing abuse of any kind, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 for support. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text "START" to 88788. You can also use the online chat. 

The LGBTQ+ community

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that belonging to the LGBTQ+ community can also come with unique mental health challenges. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are twice as likely as heterosexual individuals to have a mental health condition, and trans individuals are four times as likely as cisgender people to experience one. 

The Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth mental health, offers services to queer youth such as crisis counseling, hotlines, and a dedicated online community. They report that LGBTQ+ youth are four times as likely to attempt suicide as their heterosexual or cisgender peers due to how they are often treated and stigmatized in society and within their families. Additionally, they claimed that LGBTQ+ youth of color are more likely to consider suicide than their white peers. 

People with disabilities

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), adults living with a disability are five times as likely to experience mental distress than those without disabilities, and one in four adults in the United States has a disability. The mental health of those with disabilities may be impacted by the following: 

• A lack of adequate physical and mental health care
• Non-ADA buildings and public locations 
• Bullying or ableism
• Misinformation about their disability
• Being treated differently or "less than" 

Advocating for mental health resources, education on disabilities, and equality can be helpful ways for those who do not have a disability to support the mental health of those who do.

Indigenous communities

The most common mental health diagnoses in indigenous communities include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, and depression. Many Native American reservations are geographically isolated and are often governed by tribal organizations that may not receive much funding from the federal government. Studies show that individuals living on an isolated reservation within the US may be more likely to experience psychological distress and mental health conditions. 

The study states that although these lands are a source of resilience, they may also be a risk factor for mental health conditions and related concerns such as depression, anxiety, suicide, and domestic violence. They suggest that removing the ability to inhabit these lands would likely be harmful, as Native populations respect and honor the land to practice traditional ways of living, safeguard their culture, and preserve their languages. However, greater availability of mental health support, mental health information, funding, and providers could prove beneficial for these underserved communities.

Immigrants

Immigrants in the United States may also face unique mental health challenges, often tied to language, xenophobia, racism, and cultural differences. One study indicates that those who arrived in the US from infancy to age 11 were more likely to experience a substance use disorder or mental health condition than those who arrived as adults. 

Immigrants who are not white or come from certain countries deemed a "risk" by the US government may also experience unique challenges that those from European or primarily white countries typically do not. For example, the BBC claimed some stories of Black immigrants who reported experiencing extreme racism and violence after immigrating to the US. 

Language barriers are also a common reason for refugees and migrants to feel isolated and experience mental health concerns in a new location. The availability of translation and culturally informed care in public health settings and more immigration-specific resources would likely be beneficial to those immigrating to the US. 

Mental health treatment for minorities

Positive minority mental health contributes to the well-being of all members of U.S. society, which was a message that Bebe Moore Campbell discussed when developing the plans for Minority Mental Health Month. If you are a member of a minority group who is looking for mental health support, consider contacting a counselor. Starting a mental health care conversation can be intimidating, but there are many resources for finding the right counselor for your needs.

Some people may feel more comfortable attending therapy online, where they can choose a therapist who aligns with their culture, language, race, gender, or other elements of their identity. Studies suggest that teletherapy can be as effective as in-person counseling and may offer unique benefits to those experiencing mental health challenges that commonly affect minorities, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. 

If you’re interested in online therapy, you might consider a platform like BetterHelp. You can fill out a short questionnaire about your needs and preferences in terms of providers and get matched with a licensed therapist accordingly. You can then meet with them via phone, video call, and/or live chat from the comfort of your own home or anywhere you have an internet connection. You may find that online therapy provides a space to safely explore conversations about mental health challenges you may be facing. Many people who have tried online therapy have found that their healing journey began when they received support from a licensed therapist from the comfort of their own home.