Mental Health Advocacy During Black History Month

Mental health advocacy during Black History Month addresses critical barriers to care access while highlighting therapeutic resources, cultural competency in counseling, and evidence-based support options that empower Black Americans to seek professional mental health services despite historical challenges and systemic inequities.

When it comes to breaking down barriers and creating lasting change, mental health advocacy within the Black community has been both a historical struggle and a powerful movement for healing. From pioneering psychologists to modern-day champions, discover how Black Americans have shaped mental healthcare while building bridges to more accessible, culturally responsive support.

Mental Health And Black History Month

Black History Month generally centers on Black Americans’ history and current efforts in the Black community to fight for equity, fairness, and anti-racism. An aspect of Black history and current efforts involves mental health, as access to mental health resources for Black Americans can be challenging due to stigmas, racism, and other forms of oppression. Learning about the development of Black History Month from a mental health lens may be a way to honor this month and begin advocating for improved resources and support. One avenue to receive accessible and compassionate mental health care may be through telehealth services with licensed clinical social workers.

The history and significance of Black History Month

Black History Month was started in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a scholar who believed Black history was largely ignored in American society. After founding the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915, Woodson aimed to teach others about history, publishing the Journal of Negro History, which is now called the Journal of African American History.

In 1926, Black History Month was called “Negro History Week,” and it occurred in the second week of February in honor of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. This week unofficially evolved into Black History Month in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement and has been federally recognized since 1976 by every American president, including Barack Obama, the first Black president of the United States.

In the present, Black History Month in February often serves as a way to celebrate past and present activists, African American life, and current events. In 2023, Black History Month’s theme was “Black Resistance” to drive awareness of “continuing racism, oppression, and police killings,” as well as the too often neglected accomplishments of Black pioneers. In 2024, the theme of Black History Month is “African Americans and the Arts.”

Respectful ways to honor Black History Month

No matter who you are and from what background you come, there may be ways to honor Black History Month respectfully, including the following.

Support Black-owned businesses

Supporting Black-owned businesses can increase their public visibility and allow you to give back to the Black community and Americans of African descent. Below are a few tips for donating to or supporting Black-owned businesses:

• Don’t assume what a business might need from you; ask questions about how you can help.
• Be intentional about your efforts.
• Share your support on social media in a way that encourages others to support local businesses or Black creators.
• Continue to support Black businesses after Black History Month.
• Write positive reviews for Black-owned businesses in your area.
• Donate to Black organizations that are currently fighting for equity and equality.
• Don’t make supporting Black-owned businesses about you or your allyship unless you are part of the BIPOC community.
• Sponsor Black-owned businesses if you have a business or want to work side-by-side with other organizations.

Engage with media from Black creators and help stop racism

Black writers, filmmakers, songwriters, artists, and other creators can be censored on social media and through racist algorithms. By engaging with media online, sharing it with friends, and continuing to follow these creators, you may boost their visibility online. For example, you might listen to and share music from Robert Johnson, a Black songwriter and blues musician. In addition, you can share social media posts from Black artists and writers.

You may also support Black creators by purchasing their art or services. During Black History Month, museums or art galleries in your area may showcase Black work. You may also try visiting the National Museum of African American History or a local museum to learn more about African American History Month from artifacts, writers, and museum curators with African roots.

Attend local events

You can attend virtual and physical events for Black History Month in 2024. The Black History Month Virtual Festival occurs in February of 2024 online and involves programming surrounding the 2024 theme of African Americans and the Arts. If you live in Washington, DC, you can also purchase tickets for the 2024 Black History Month Festival Luncheon.

The physical celebration of the Black History Month Festival will also occur in Washington, DC. Other cities also hold festivals, including the Los Angeles Black History Month Festival and the 15th annual Black History Month Festival by Springs Preserve.

Mental health and Black History Month

An aspect of Black History that may sometimes be ignored is mental health. Many Black pioneers paved the way to support the mental health of Black and BIPOC communities in the present. Below are ways to focus on mental health in February and year-round.

Learn about mental health statistics for Black Americans

Mental health statistics for Black Americans can be drastically different from those of other categories. According to Mental Health America, “Historical dehumanization, oppression, and violence against Black and African American people has evolved into present-day racism—structural, institutional, and individual—and cultivates a uniquely mistrustful and less affluent community experience, characterized by a myriad of disparities, including inadequate access to and delivery of care in the health system.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Black Americans (especially Black women) tend to be more likely to experience feelings of severe sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness than other populations.

With approximately 16% of all Black and African American people experiencing a mental illness in the last year, access to mental health resources can be crucial. In addition, suicide risk and substance use can be increased in Black populations, so suicide prevention efforts can also be essential in these communities.

Access hotlines and resources as a Black or BIPOC American

If you would prefer to speak to a BIPOC crisis counselor, you can call or text BlackLine at 1-800-604-5841 for peer support, resources, and affirmation. They are trained to support those struggling with mental health concerns, hate crimes, BLM-related concerns, police brutality, prison advocacy, and referrals. These individuals work from a Black feminine lens and prioritize BIPOC individuals calling for support.

Learn about Black mental health pioneers through education

Several pioneers in mental health have frequently been overlooked in discussions about Black History. Below are some of these individuals and the contributions they’ve made:

• Bebe Moore Campbell: Bebe Moore Campbell was an author and mental health advocate for the Black community. She founded a NAMI branch in Inglewood to create a space for Black Americans to reach out for support. After her death, Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was named in her honor.
• Kitch Childs, Ph.D.: Dr. Childs founded the Association for Women in Psychology and was one of the founders of the Gay Liberation Front in Chicago. She was a therapist providing support to LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC clients from her community.
• Francis Cecil Sumner, Ph.D.: Dr. Sumner was the first Black man in the US to get a degree in psychology. He graduated from Howard University and headed their psychology department.
• Inez Beverly Prosser, Ph.D.: Dr. Prosser was the first Black woman in the US to get a Ph.D. in psychology. She wrote her dissertation on segregation and racial inequality and their impacts on self-esteem.
• Beverly Greene, Ph.D.: Dr. Greene pioneered intersectional psychology focused on the connections between LGBTQIA+ identity, racism, oppression, and mental health. She received the Distinguished Publication Award from the Association of Women in Psychology in 2008.

There are many other pioneers in mental health, so studying these individuals and their impacts can be a way to honor Black History Month.