Formally recognized in June 2008 (and currently designated as), Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was created to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness in the US. Bebe Moore Campbell was an American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who worked tirelessly to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities. To continue the visionary work of Bebe Moore Campbell, each year Mental Health America (MHA) develops a public education campaign dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). This year’s theme is Strength in Communities, where we will be highlighting alternative mental health supports created by queer and trans BIPOC (QTBIPOC), for BIPOC and QTBIPOC. We will examine community-developed systems of support created to fill in gaps within traditional systems that may overlook cultural and historical factors that impede BIPOC and QTBIPOC mental health. We will explore three topic areas: community care, self-directed care, and cultural care and why these types of care are valid and valuable choices people can make for their mental health.
When we talk about the Western medical model, we are referring to the model of understanding and treating health conditions, both mental and physical, that most of the Western health care industry has adopted, especially within the U.S., in which clear and accurate diagnoses, evidence based-treatments, measurable data and outcomes, and a reliance on systematic research and analysis are emphasized. In the past, this model focused on diagnosis and the management of symptoms presented in the disease, while more holistic methods take into account an individual’s lifestyle in their treatment. This model has been helpful for a number of reasons, including..
As a community, we want to make sure we are supporting our QTBIPOC and BIPOC individuals. We can do this by educating ourselves, educating and providing resiliency to our youth, examining our current structures and asking questions, holding organizations accountable, and pushing for accessibility in traditional health care. Eliminating racism and systematic racism is a big task, but together we can help increase equity, break down systematic racism, and strengthen our communities. For more information and resources, please visit mhanational.org/BIPOC-mental-health-month.
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October 2021
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