Taking care of our mental health is important for everyone, and it's something we should talk about and support each other with every single day, not just during Black History Month. Everyone needs a little help sometimes, and it's okay to reach out for it. Let's look at some ways we can all help and support each other in finding the care we need.
Why It's Important
Sometimes, it can be hard for people in the Black community to find the right help when they're feeling down or worried because there aren't enough helpers who understand what they're going through. Plus, sometimes people feel embarrassed to ask for help. But taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body, and asking for help is a brave thing to do.
Finding Someone Who Gets It
It's really helpful to talk to someone who understands you and where you're coming from. There are groups like the Association of Black Psychologists and Therapy for Black Girls that can help you find someone to talk to who gets the challenges you might be facing. At Revive Therapeutic Services, our therapists are here to support you every step of the way.
Online Places to Find Support
Nowadays, the internet can help us find support and friends from the comfort of our homes. It can connect us to people who understand what we're going through.
Websites like Therapy for Black Men are on a mission to shift the narrative around therapy from being seen as a weakness to a step toward strength, specifically aiming to make mental health support more accessible for Black men and boys. The initiative offers a comprehensive national directory featuring about 150 therapists and 30 coaches. These professionals are ready to assist with various challenges, including relationship issues, weight management, and boosting confidence, all while offering care that's culturally sensitive and aware.
Furthermore, Therapy for Black Men offers financial support to help those in need, ensuring that economic barriers don't prevent Black Americans from receiving the help they deserve. Additionally, the platform shares enlightening blogs and articles that tackle important subjects such as navigating relationships and understanding emotional triggers. provide a safe space to find support and resources. It's a place where you don't have to explain your background because it's already understood.
Black Men Heal offers limited free sessions for therapy, focusing on reducing the stigma and financial barriers to mental health support.
Websites like Therapy for Black Girls which is dedicated to making mental health support more reachable for Black women and shedding light on mental health matters within the Black community.
This platform features a podcast led by licensed psychologist Joy Harden Bradford, where she dives into issues like complex PTSD, intimate partner violence affecting Black women, and how to discuss race with children. Additionally, Therapy for Black Girls offers a directory of therapists, a supportive community known as the “sister circle,” and an informative blog.
Therapy in Color is passionate about fostering healing environments, committed to ensuring that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) have access to psychotherapy from culturally diverse professionals.
With a vision to break down the stigmas associated with seeking therapy, Therapy in Color provides a wealth of resources including a therapist directory, a blog filled with insightful articles, and tools designed to help individuals navigate anxiety and various mental health challenges. Founded by licensed psychotherapist Ashley Bryant, this initiative stands at the forefront of promoting inclusivity within the mental health community.
The Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA) is deeply committed to nurturing the well-being of the Black community through a wealth of resources, including a comprehensive database of Black psychiatrists and a thoughtful questionnaire designed to connect individuals with therapists who can meet their unique needs. Our mission extends to organizing educational forums, offering training, and providing referral services tailored to uplift and empower.
Furthermore, BMHA takes pride in delivering school-based mental health services, initiatives celebrating fatherhood, and enriching after-school programs. Every program and workshop we offer is created with cultural sensitivity at its core, directly addressing critical issues such as race-based trauma, structural racism, and the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community, all with the goal of fostering healing and understanding.
Renowned actress Taraji P. Henson, widely recognized for her roles on screen, has also stepped into the spotlight as a vocal advocate for mental health within the Black community, drawing from her personal journey through anxiety, depression, and grief. In 2018, inspired by her late father Boris Lawrence Henson's mental health struggles stemming from his service in the Vietnam War, she founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation. This initiative honors his legacy by elevating mental health awareness in the Black community and striving to dismantle the associated stigmas.
The foundation not only shines a light on these critical issues but also actively collaborates with other organizations to offer scholarships to Black students embarking on careers in mental health fields. It aims to address and reduce recidivism within the prison system and provides vital mental health services to young people in urban school settings.
This focus on youth is driven by alarming statistics showing that the suicide rates among Black children aged 5 to 11 are twice as high as those of their white peers, with Black teenagers also facing a higher likelihood of attempting suicide. These figures underscore the importance of the foundation's mission, especially in schools.
During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic and the racial justice movements ignited by the tragic murder of George Floyd, the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation has stepped up its efforts. It has extended free virtual therapy sessions to Black Americans affected by the pandemic and the ensuing social unrest, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to supporting mental wellness and healing within the Black community during periods of crisis and beyond.
Useful wellness and Mental health apps
Learning More Together
Learning more about how to take care of our mental health and recognizing when we or our friends might need help is important. The Steve Fund is a cool place to learn more about keeping our minds healthy, with easy-to-understand workshops and talks.
To make things better, we need to work on changing the rules and making sure everyone can get the help they need. Supporting groups that work to make these changes, like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), is a big part of this.
Help in Our Communities
Sometimes, the best place to find support is right in our own neighborhoods, at places like community centers or churches. These places often have groups or people you can talk to who understand what you're going through.
Looking Ahead
Let's keep talking about mental health and supporting each other, not just during a special month but all year round. By learning about and sharing these resources, we can all help each other feel a little better and a little less alone.
Remember, it's okay to ask for help, and there are people and places ready to support you.
Let's take care of our mental health together!