Mental Health Advocacy In Communities Of Color: BIPOC Mental Health

July is BIPOC Mental Health Month, also known as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Each year, this month spotlights the unique barriers in mental health that the Black community, the Indigenous community, and other communities of color can face. These groups are often described using the acronym BIPOC for the terms Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Some people may use different terminology to refer to themselves. 

Mental health conditions can impact anyone, regardless of their race, ethnic background, nationality, citizenship or immigration status, or cultural identity. However, the ability to meet one’s mental health needs may be negatively impacted by being a member of underrepresented communities in the United States. Understanding these impacts and centering BIPOC voices this July and year-round can be a way to celebrate BIPOC Mental Health Month and learn more about the unique obstacles communities of color can face.

What is BIPOC Mental Health Month in America?

BIPOC Mental Health Month in July honors the mental health of communities of color. Initially started by Bebe Moore Campbell, this annual holiday explores how culture, race, and ethnicity play into how people experience the world, how they are treated, and how they can seek support. As BIPOC individuals often face barriers to seeking mental healthcare and mental health education, gaps in mental wellness can occur compared to other populations. Learning more about BIPOC mental health is one way to celebrate this July and make a difference in your community.

Barriers and stigma BIPOC communities may encounter

These barriers can lead to worsened mental illness and physical health outcomes, as well as decreased overall well-being. Below are further ways these barriers may have a negative impact.

Discriminatory barriers

Marginalization and discrimination can lead to difficulty accessing mental health resources. Barriers related to discrimination include the following: 

• Lack of psychological safety when seeking mental healthcare
• BIPOC populations’ historical exclusion from mental health research causing a knowledge deficit in how mental health conditions may present in these communities 
• Prior experiences with prejudice and discrimination from healthcare providers (any provider, not specifically a mental health professional) that can lead to distrust of the medical system as a whole
• Healthcare providers demonstrating a lack of cultural competency or sensitivity
• Mental health professionals interpreting symptoms of certain conditions as more severe when present in BIPOC people—For example, Black patients who are displaying symptoms of mood disorders are more likely to be misdiagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders
• Not being offered psychotherapy or medication as treatment options for mental health conditions
• An increased risk for BIPOC youth who demonstrate behavioral concerns to be referred to the juvenile justice system than to a mental healthcare provider
• A higher risk of physicians and other care providers being less likely to use patient-centered communication practices with BIPOC people, in which the patient and the care provider develop a treatment plan together
• Lack of culturally sensitive inpatient services (for example, Muslim patients may be uncomfortable staying at a facility without a designated space for daily prayer or that does not serve Halal food)

Cultural barriers

BIPOC individuals may face cultural barriers to care, including the following: 

• Stigma around seeking mental health support, which may be more pervasive in some BIPOC communities
• Being more likely to display or identify the physical symptoms of specific mental health conditions, such as body aches associated with depression, than psychological symptoms, which a healthcare provider may misinterpret and consequently misdiagnose
• The cultural value of family in some BIPOC cultures and the perception that talking about mental health concerns could bring shame to family members
• Religious beliefs that portray mental health symptoms as being a test or punishment from God or caused by demonic possession
• The pressure among some BIPOC cultures for women to marry, which may lead women to conceal their mental health concerns because they are worried they will not be considered a viable marriage prospect if their community is aware of their mental health situation
• Cultural norms around sex and gender segregation, which could influence a person to see a mental health provider that discusses their gender identity, which may limit the number of eligible providers
• Religious beliefs that involve fasting, which could include abstaining from mental health medications
• For refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants: a fear that a mental health diagnosis will make it more difficult to get stable employment or housing

Financial barriers

Financial barriers to care can include the following: 

• Cost of care
• Inadequate health insurance coverage
• Higher rates of poverty, which can lead to fewer financial resources to access care and fewer care providers available in areas where people of lower socioeconomic status live

Structural barriers

Structural barriers often faced by people in the BIPOC community could include: 

• A higher chance of seeking mental healthcare in emergency rooms or from primary care providers because of impaired accessibility to therapists and other trained mental health specialists
• The higher rate of BIPOC people, especially Black people, who are incarcerated, which can further limit access to care (and cause historical trauma which can make mental health conditions worse, including for future generations)
• Lack of details on mental health disorders among BIPOC populations

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

How to advocate and bring awareness to BIPOC mental health needs

Some healthcare institutions in the United States may recognize the problematic nature of existing racial and cultural disparities in mental healthcare and are taking steps to address them. A number of campaigns are also seeking to draw attention to the problem, including BIPOC Mental Health Month, which Mental Health America explains “was created to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face regarding mental illness in the US.” This month is celebrated every year in July.  

Specific ways to advocate for Black, Indigenous, and people of color

However, one does not have to restrict advocacy efforts to only one month out of the year. Those hoping to improve access to mental healthcare for BIPOC people may consider advocating for the following: 

• Using non-stigmatizing language to discuss mental health and avoiding words like “crazy,” “nuts,” “insane,” “psycho,” “sociopath,” and “psychotic” (unless describing an actual episode or symptoms of psychosis)
• Learning about implicit bias, which the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines as “unintentional attitudes, behaviors, and actions that are in favor of or against one person or group”
• Ensuring BIPOC people and perspectives are included in idea generation and decision-making in public mental health programming
• Including details on race and ethnicity when analyzing mental health information and outcomes
• Prioritizing the elimination of racial disparities as an end goal for mental health programs
• Focusing on structural and social determinants of health, which are nonmedical factors that can influence health outcomes, such as social and community context, access to education and healthcare, the neighborhood where a person lives, and their economic stability level

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Finding support for BIPOC mental health advocacy work

Working to make structural change in society can be difficult. If you are a member of the BIPOC community who is advocating to improve outcomes for BIPOC people or a white ally who wants to right historical injustices, you may find yourself mentally and emotionally drained. In these situations, talking to a therapist may be helpful.

Improving BIPOC mental health: How online therapy breaks barriers

One way to potentially navigate barriers to accessing traditional in-person therapy is to seek online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp. With online therapy, you do not have to travel to a therapy appointment and can speak to a therapist from wherever you have a stable internet connection. In addition, online platforms may allow you to specify if you’d like to be matched with a BIPOC therapist. 

Effectiveness of online therapy

Research has indicated that online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy in addressing mental health concerns. One study found that a course of online cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a therapy modality that is widely seen as the gold standard for treating a variety of mental health conditions, reduced mental health symptoms in participants and was as effective as face-to-face options.