Observed each July and originally designated as National Minority Mental  Health Awareness Month,  BIPOC Mental Health Month highlights the  unique mental health  challenges and needs of historically  disenfranchised or oppressed racial  and ethnic groups in the United  States. Black and Indigenous people and  other people of color (BIPOC)  experience a broad spectrum of ongoing  discrimination, oppression, and  inequity rooted in America’s colonialist  history, all of which foster  both collective and individual trauma in  those communities.  Counselors, therapists and other mental health professionals are   essential to promoting the mental health and well-being of people in   BIPOC communities and addressing the systemic discrepancies in quality   of and access to care for these individuals. By providing counselors   with the support, education, and professional resources needed to serve   BIPOC clients, we can work together to create deep multicultural   competence and provide effective care for the mental health of every   individual.

We can’t deny it any longer: there is a Black mental health crisis in our world today. Black people die at disproportionately high rates due to chronic illness, suffer from poverty, under-education, and the effects of racism.

It’s past time to take Black mental health seriously. Whether you suffer yourself, have a loved one who needs help, or are a mental health professional working with the Black community, this story is  essential and much-needed to be heard.

July is BIPOC Mental Health Month

Observed each July and originally designated as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month,  BIPOC Mental Health Month highlights the unique mental health  challenges and needs of historically disenfranchised or oppressed racial  and ethnic groups in the United States. Black and Indigenous people and  other people of color (BIPOC) experience a broad spectrum of ongoing  discrimination, oppression, and inequity rooted in America’s colonialist  history, all of which foster both collective and individual trauma in  those communities.

Counselors, therapists and other mental health professionals are  essential to promoting the mental health and well-being of people in  BIPOC communities and addressing the systemic discrepancies in quality  of and access to care for these individuals. By providing counselors  with the support, education, and professional resources needed to serve  BIPOC clients, we can work together to create deep multicultural  competence and provide effective care for the mental health of every  individual.

What is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month  National minority mental health awareness month is a campaign held  annually under the sponsorship of CDC and HHS in commemorating federal  intentions of eliminating health discrepancies that were marshaled by  the findings from the Heckler Report. The campaign takes place every  July when the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) launches  outreach programs to disseminate health information and education  material designed for minority sectors of the population, including  Hispanics, Blacks, Asian/Pacific Islanders, as well as Native Americans. Purpose of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month  The purpose of the national minority mental health awareness month is to  ensure that useful information and technical assistance are available  for patient education in response to minority population requirements,  particularly those in special care services like school, medical,  community-based and worksite locations. The campaign also aims at  creating awareness among afflicted persons and surfaces them with  details about where they can find help. In addition, the Department  continues with research and implements innovative models for financing  health services depending on current departmental agreements. It’s also  an opportunity for initiating discussions with minority and non-minority  health experts, organizations, State government, academic institutions  and other entities from private and public sectors in coming up with  means and ways of improving availability and accessibility of health  professionals to minority populations.

What is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month? BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous People and People of Color – formerly referred to as minority. Each July behavioral health organizations  bring awareness to the unique mental health conditions that these groups of people face. Mental Health Statistics  Most racial groups have similar, or in some cases fewer mental health conditions than whites but the affects in BIPOC groups last longer. For instance, over 24% of blacks and almost 20% of Hispanics are diagnosed with depression, as opposed to almost 35% of white people.  Additionally, American Indians/Alaskan Natives report higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence than any other group.  Mental health conditions are more common with people in the criminal justice system, which has many more people of color than whites. Between 50% to 75% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a mental health condition. Racial and/or ethnic youth with behavioral health conditions are referred more often to the juvenile justice system than to specialty primary care, compared to white youth. To add onto these statistics, this same group is also more likely to end up in the juvenile justice system due to harsher disciplinary practices like suspension in schools.. Disparities in Mental Health for BIPOC  This group of people in our community is less likely to receive mental health care. In a recent study it showed that among adults with mental health conditions, 48% of white received services. In contract only 31% of blacks and Hispanics and 22% of Asians received them.  There are a lot of factors that affect the access to treatment including: Not having insurance Stigma associated with mental health conditions Lack of diversity among providers Language barriers Distrust in the health care system Low cultural competence among providers  Sources:  https://mhanational.org/ https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.or...

What is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month? BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous People and People of Color – formerly referred to as minority. Each July behavioral health organizations  bring awareness to the unique mental health conditions that these groups of people face.

Most racial groups have similar, or in some cases fewer mental health conditions than whites but the affects in BIPOC groups last longer. For instance, over 24% of blacks and almost 20% of Hispanics are diagnosed with depression, as opposed to almost 35% of white people.

Additionally, American Indians/Alaskan Natives report higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence than any other group.  Mental health conditions are more common with people in the criminal justice system, which has many more people of color than whites. Between 50% to 75% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a mental health condition. Racial and/or ethnic youth with behavioral health conditions are referred more often to the juvenile justice system than to specialty primary care, compared to white youth. To add onto these statistics, this same group is also more likely to end up in the juvenile justice system due to harsher disciplinary practices like suspension in schools..

This group of people in our community is less likely to receive mental health care. In a recent study it showed that among adults with mental health conditions, 48% of white received services. In contract only 31% of blacks and Hispanics and 22% of Asians received them.

There are a lot of factors that affect the access to treatment including:

Sources:

https://mhanational.org/

https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2020.6b39

Have  you ever found yourself dreading Sunday mornings when you know you  should feel joy? Or have you felt that the church fellowship has been  laced with land mines? Perhaps the nastiness or neglect of fellow  Christians has made you feel like Christ has forgotten you.

If so, you’re familiar with church pain.