Keeping It Real…BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month

By Diane C. Gooding, Ph.D., President, NAMI-Dane County 

In 2008, NAMI and the U.S. Congress designated July as the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.  We are indebted to Bebe Moore Campbell for her activism, and her candid writings regarding mental illness in communities of color.  Hopefully, NAMI and perhaps the government can find a way to honor her many contributions, such as a postage stamp or a designated award.  However, we need to start calling July BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month. 

Words matter, and increasingly, applying the term “minority” to ethnic and racial groups is viewed by many as offensive. BIPOC is the acronym for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color .  It is meant to include all  people in the following groups:  Black, African, African-American, West-Indian;  Indigenous and Native (all 550+ tribal nations); Asian Indian, Cambodian, Chinese, Indonesian, Korean, Hmong, and Vietnamese; Latinx, Chicano, Hispanic; Middle-Eastern, Arab; and multi-ethnic. As our language evolves, hopefully NAMI and the mental health community at large can lead the way in changing our terms accordingly.  As always, with any group, but particularly with groups who have experienced discrimination, we strive to be flexible, open, and culturally humble as we  listen to others’ feedback regarding how people wish to be identified.  Self-identification is empowering. 

The goals of BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month are simple:  to bring greater awareness about the mental health needs of BIPOC communities.  Just as there are unique aspects to each culture, there are unique ways in which each of the groups has regarded mental illness.  Nonetheless, there are some commonalities that bind us.  

This has definitely been a challenging time.  The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately ravaged our black and brown communities, leaving many families without their loved ones and/or forever changing the lives of those who survived the pandemic, albeit with organ failure.  In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems as though we’ve been battling a pandemic of racial and ethnic intolerance.  For example, there’s been so many instances of mental illness being criminalized that all too often, when family members of color want to reach out in a crisis, they are hesitant to call the police.  

Here are some suggestions as we move through this month and beyond. 

1. Know the signs.  Know what mental illness looks like. 

First, we need better education around mental health and mental illness across all age groups. It’s important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness, so that you know when to seek help for yourself or your loved ones.  The signs of depression and anxiety in children may look quite different than they do in teens, and quite different than they do in adults.  Depression in men may look different than it does in women.  Bipolar depression looks different from the depression accompanying major depressive disorder. 

2. Know when to get help and seek treatment. 

We also know that BIPOC folks are much less likely to get the necessary treatment for their mental illness. Part of the reason may be distrust of the medical profession or the mental health field. Given the historical treatment of many BIPOC people in this country, this is understandable. There is also a reluctance to seek help from people who either do not look or communicate like you. However, it is still important to seek help. Increasingly, our graduate programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology, social work, and Psychiatry are emphasizing the importance of being culturally responsive and reflective.  

Here are key things to look for in a therapist or counselor: You want a sense that they respect your cultural background and your experiences as well as your individuality. Ideally, you want a counselor who understands the concept of intersectionality, that is, how the various aspects of your identity interact. I advise people to expend at least as much effort finding a good therapist as they would in finding a good hairdresser, barbershop, or tailor.  

Cost of treatment and being uninsured or underinsured are often mentioned as a deterrent to getting help. Do not underestimate your local community mental health centers.  Also, most therapists are used to being asked about sliding fee scales.  Fortunately, mental illness information and treatment are available in a variety of formats.   

Please email the NAMI-Dane County office for a handout that provides resources for BIPOC mental health, including podcasts, websites, and other organizations that can refer you to culture-specific therapists. If you are interested in enlisting counseling or therapy from someone who offers telehealth in another area (for example, Georgia or New Mexico), make sure that they have licensing privileges in Wisconsin (or wherever you reside) so that your insurance can cover at least part of it (if possible). 

3. Kick the stigma.  Mental illness is just that; it’s an illness. 

 There is an incredible amount of mental illness stigma among BIPOC groups. No, mental illness is not just a “white thing” or a “middle class thing.  Here's what we know:  we know that mental illness affects everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity. Mental illness is not a personal failing, nor is it a sin or the result of a curse.  We must convey to our BIPOC brothers and sisters that a mental illness is just like any other (physical) illness.  Like physical disorders, mental illnesses vary in terms of severity.  Finally, having to take medication does not imply anything in terms of your capabilities. 

4.  There’s a new crisis line that you can call: 988.  

You can now call 988 during a mental health, substance use or suicide crisis. 

Suicide is real and it’s disproportionately affecting the BIPOC communities.  This is partly a reflection of untreated mental illness and disparities in healthcare,  and understandable reluctance to call the police during a crisis situation. Now, however, there’s an alternative.  You can call 988 and speak to someone trained in mental health.  They are available 24/7. 

5.  Call upon the unique strengths and resiliencies associated with your community.

Getting treatment for emotional problems and mental illness does not negate the richness of your heritage.  In fact, you will want to call upon the unique strengths and resilience associated with your particular community in order to help you in your recovery journey.  This may include incorporating prayer groups, rituals, and/or alternative therapies in addition to the traditional mental health treatment.  Like any illness, mental illness can feel like an isolative experience. Take time to enjoy the special foods and traditions that tie you to your community.  Remember, the resiliency of our communities have been central to our survival. Your seeking help will strengthen you so that you can continue to contribute to your community.