Alliance Note: July marks the annual observance of Bebe Moore Campbell Minority Mental Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the unique mental health challenges faced by minority communities. This month serves as a tribute to the late Bebe Moore Campbell, an acclaimed author, and advocate, whose tireless efforts brought much-needed attention to mental health disparities.
Bebe Moore Campbell was a powerful voice for mental health advocacy, particularly within the Black communities. Her work highlighted the stigma and obstacles that minority communities face when seeking mental health care. By sharing personal stories and engaging in open dialogues, she paved the way for greater understanding and support for mental health issues affecting minorities.
While we have made many strides in reducing disparities, much more must be done. Racial, ethnic, and LGBTQ+ communities continue to face increased stigma and cultural barriers preventing access to quality care, provider bias, financial disparities, and a lack of physical proximity to desired support services.
During this month, we honor Bebe Moore Campbell’s legacy by promoting education, support, and advocacy. It’s a time to raise awareness, encourage dialogue, and advocate for person centered, culturally responsive community-based support services.
We encourage you to join our work to advance culturally responsive support for minority communities by joining the Alliance’s Cultural Competence Committee, which meets every 3rd Thursday of the month from 1-2:30pm. To be added to the Cultural Competence Committee list, please contact Eileen Crosby Negron at eileenc@rightsandrecovery.org
See below for more information on Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, including a short list of helpful resources and a message from the NYS Office of Mental Health celebrating minority mental health month and other events this July, including Black Maternal Health Week.
Resources
To help address the mental health needs of minority communities, here are some valuable resources:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Learn more about Bebe Moore Campbell and National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
- Mental Health America (MHA)
- Check out Mental Health America’s 2024 BIPOC Mental Health Toolkit
- Black Mental Health Alliance
- Focuses on providing mental health services and support for the Black community.
- Website: Black Mental Health Alliance
- Asian Mental Health Collective
- A community aimed at improving the mental health of Asian individuals through resources, support, and advocacy.
- Website: Asian Mental Health Collective
- Therapy for Latinx
- Connects Latinx individuals with therapists who understand their unique cultural and mental health needs.
- Website: Therapy for Latinx
- The Trevor Project
- Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth, including those from minority backgrounds.
- Website: The Trevor Project
- The Steve Fund
- Dedicated to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color.
- Website: The Steve Fund
| OMH Celebrates Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and Black Maternal Mental Health Week | |
| Additional Observances in July: Black Hair Independence Day (7/3) Independence Day (7/4) International Non-Binary Peoples Day (7/14) National Parenting Gifted Children Day (3rd Week of July) International Self Care Day (7/24) National Disability Independence Day (7/26) Bereaved Parents Awareness Month National Foreign Language Month | The New York State Office of Mental Health is proud to recognize July as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and Black Maternal Mental Health Week. Cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic differences can significantly impact mental health and the effectiveness of care. Highlighting these issues can foster a greater understanding and dialogue about the importance of culturally competent mental health services. Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is dedicated to highlighting the mental health challenges and disparities faced by minority communities. Cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic barriers can significantly impact access to and the quality of mental health care. Raising awareness sheds light on these critical issues and promotes a deeper understanding of the unique mental health needs within diverse populations. Named after Bebe Moore Campbell, who was a renowned author and mental health advocate. She was instrumental in raising awareness about mental health issues in minority communities. Click the following link to learn more about the impact and trailblazing efforts of Bebe Moore Campbell. Black Maternal Mental Health Week shines a spotlight on the mental health challenges that Black birthing people often face, including higher rates of postpartum depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. These challenges are compounded by systemic barriers, such as racial bias in healthcare, socioeconomic disparities, and limited access to culturally responsive mental health services. Raising awareness and addressing these issues helps to support the mental well-being of these individuals throughout New York State. Additionally, OMH’s commitment to addressing these disparities is unwavering. The agency is actively working to promote equitable access to mental health care through various initiatives and programs tailored to meet the needs of diverse populations. These efforts include increasing the availability of culturally and linguistically appropriate services, expanding outreach and education in minority communities, and supporting mental health professionals in delivering care that is respectful of and responsive to the cultural contexts of all individuals. Building a more inclusive and supportive mental health system for all New Yorkers will ensure that everyone can achieve mental wellness. |
| OMH Initiatives Addressing Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Month and Black Maternal Mental Health Week | Community Mental Health Promotion and Support COMHPS The Office of Prevention and Health Initiatives oversees the agency’s Community Mental Health Promotion and Support program. Services for priority populations include communities of color not engaged by traditional mental health services. The goal is to help individuals with mental health needs who could benefit from supportive services provided by a trained paraprofessional and to promote behavioral health and wellness in their local communities. There are 10 providers located in Erie County, Oneida County, Westchester County, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and New York City, offering services such as community outreach and engagement; public education; supportive encounters for individuals, families, and groups; screenings for clinical and social needs; and referrals to licensed mental health professionals when needed. Program staff are racially and ethnically diverse, representing the communities they serve and trained in cultural responsiveness. To reach underserved communities, they deliver services in a variety of settings including schools, libraries, places of worship, senior centers, public assistance offices, and other community locations. Suicide Prevention Programs for Special Populations of Youth and Young Adults OMH is supporting five nonprofit organizations to provide suicide prevention programs for underserved youth and young adults, with plans to expand in later this year. In recognition of the unique cultural factors that must be considered in the development of suicide prevention strategies, funding is intended to promote services for at-risk young people, including those who are racial and ethnic minorities. The programs are charged with providing innovative and culturally relevant interventions such as supportive services for individuals, groups, and families, academic and vocational supports, positive youth development activities, community engagement and outreach, and suicide risk assessment. Programs partner with behavioral health organizations to serve participants who may need ongoing mental health treatment and/or crisis intervention services. There are five programs serving BIPOC youth in the New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley regions, with plans to add five additional organizations later this year. Black Maternal Mental Health OMH is convening a Maternal Mental Health workgroup to study and issue recommendations regarding perinatal/postpartum mood/anxiety disorders. The workgroup is reviewing legislation, policies, and programs to promote positive maternal mental health outcomes for minoritized New Yorkers. This includes Black birthing people who are twice as likely to suffer from these disorders as their white counterparts but only half as likely to receive treatment. The workgroup will submit a report of findings to the legislature by the end of the year. OMH issued a report in November evaluating the adequacy of postpartum depression screening protocols and tools across racial and ethnic groups and offer strategies to ensure the existing system is equitably serving postpartum New Yorkers. OMH was selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as one of eight states/territories to participate in a six-month Maternal Mental Health Learning Collaborative. This collaborative is charged with the identification and examination of best practices to support Maternal Mental Health. |
| Office of Diversity and Inclusion NYS Office of Mental Health OfficeDiversityInclusion@omh.ny.gov | |