Heh Beautiful People! This month is a wonderful month to bring attention to something that’s extremely important. The month of July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (MMHAM). It’s a great time to bring awareness to the unique challenges minority communities face. We want to shed some light on some of the mental health struggles. Many people are aware of the stigma surrounding mental health issues within minority populations. The stigma often prevents people from recieving the help they often need. In this blog post, we want to provide essential information and resources to promote awareness and support for people within these communities. There is a 2025 theme for this month. It is ‘Turn Awareness into Action’. In order to support the theme, we want to share how we all can amplify our voices and break down barriers. We also want to empower each other and prioritze our well-being.
Understanding Minority Mental Health
When we talk about mental health concerns, we are taling about deppression, anxiety disorders, eating diorders, mood disorders, schizoaffective disorders, stress,and more. Although we are highlighting minority populations this month, these issues can affect different populations. The minority communities are highlighted because there is usually additional barriers to getting the help that is needed regarding these issues.
“I realized how people end up in the grae. Because that one moment of just breaking or feeling like I can’t, I can’t go on, it’s too heavy. That was somewhere I don’t ever want to go again.
Fantasia Barrino (sourced from The Root)
Destigmatizing Mental Health
Stigma surrounding Mental health is especialy harmful in minority populations. Cultural norms and belief systems may discourage people from receiving much needed help. Sometimes when people seek help, minority communities think that its a sign of being spiritually weak.
“Our ancestors survived slavery, segregation, and so much worse than we do today. You can’t handle this? You shouldn’t need outside help for this!”
Thoughts of many in the African american community
This is sometimes the thought that keeps people from receivinng the help that they so desparately need. Many famiies in minority communities are especially close to each other due to historically systematic barriers that they have all faced. They understandably don’t trust the ‘outside’ world because of how they have been treated historically. To note, its unbelievable that there are still many things that these communities must fight against.
Receiving Proper Help
Mental Health advocates are dong an excellent job in bringing awareness to the importance of our mental health. They are also helping communities to understand the reason so many aren’t receiving proper help. There may be language barriers, lack of quality care, lack of representation, and a lack of proper community support.
How Can We Make It Better?
Let’s first educate ourselves individually.
There is a saying that if you keep doing what you keep doing, you’re going to get what you’ve been getting. Individuals must intentionally take time to learn about mental health. Mental health is emotional, mental, and social well-being. It’s how we think and feel. How we think and feel determines how we act and manage our everyday life. Just like we take care of our physical health so that we don’t have common colds on a regular basis, we must think of our mental health the same way.
Sometimes we have colds when the season changes or when we have traveled to a different place with air quality that you’re not used to. Our mental health may be the same way. When life situaltions change, it can be hard to manage your mental health (your thoughts and feelings). It is important to stop ourselves and practice intentional self-awareness. Many of us think nothing of going to the doctor when we are physically sick. We do need to start examing how we look at our health care providers. Just like God has provided doctors to help take better care of ourseles, Mental health providers try to do the same regarding our mental health.
We must educate ourselves regarding the symptoms and causes of depression, anxiety, and the other mental health illnesses. Some of the symptoms can be things like pulling away from people, appetite or weight changes, among other suymptoms.
2. Let’s Get Needed Help
Noticing a change in your mental health? It is important that you contact a mental health specialist or a trusted loved one for help. Even when you see changes in a loved one, encourage them to see someone.
By highlighting these resources and promotig their accessibilty, we can empower individuals to take charge of their mental well-being and seek the help that they need.
Turn Awareness into Action
As this year’s theme suggests, let’s turn awareness into action by increasing awareness, advocating for change, and supporting each other. Let’s work toward a more inclusive and supportive environment for mental health within minority communities. Together, we can break the stigma and create a healthier mental space.
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