Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Written by Public Health Intern, Nathaniel King
Each July, we recognize Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (MMHAM) in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, a fearless advocate for equitable access to mental health care and reducing stigma in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
MMHAM helps break down barriers to care, reduce stigma, and bring awareness to the state of mental health in BIPOC communities. This month also encourages organizations and providers to approach care with cultural humility and understanding.
Barriers to Mental Health Care
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color experience obstacles to receiving mental health care at disproportionate rates. Common barriers include:
- Lack of provider representation
- Providers who do not understand BIPOC experiences
- Bias and discrimination in healthcare settings
- Feeling unheard and/or not taken seriously
- Stigma around mental health within family systems and community
- Limited access to affordable services
- Transportation to and from therapy
The barriers are rooted in racism, discrimination, cultural differences, underrepresentation and historical distrust of the healthcare system. Unfortunately, these challenges often contribute to higher rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.
The Corner has something for everyone, and support is here for you.
BIPOC Services at the Corner
The Corner Health Center's Behavioral Health team provides a wide range of behavioral and mental health services and specialized support that intentionally reduced barriers specific to the BIPOC community. These services include:
- Transportation assistance
- Virtual and in-person therapy options
- Affordable care; the Corner does not turn any young person away regardless of their ability to pay
- Specialized intake process that ensures clients are matched with a therapist that best fits their needs
- Continuous education on cultural humility for mental health providers
- Community therapist who works directly in the community, meeting young people where they're at
- Trauma-informed care
- Care manager who stays current on available resources in our service areas to effectively connect clients with additional resources
- Coordination of care once clients age out of 25 to ensure therapy services are continued outside of the Corner
Our team of mental health professionals are highly qualified therapists who ensure BIPOC clients have the representation, understanding, and safety they need to heal and grow.
(734) 484-3600