Seeking Help Is a Sign of Strength: A Call to Action for Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

By Kyra Wagner

July is Bebe Moore Campbell Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This observance is named after Moore Campbell for her relentless advocacy for communities of color.

Almost two decades after the inception of Bebe Moore Campbell Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, there is still work to do to improve systems of care for communities of color, who may carry a heavy burden, often borne from generational trauma, histories of enslavement, and systemic oppression and discrimination. Black young adults ages 18-25 have the lowest prevalence of having been diagnosed with a mental health condition in the past year compared to other races and ethnicities. However, Black adolescents ages 12-17 are also less likely than their white peers to receive mental health care. This is thought to be due to access and trust issues, as well as stigma, rooted in historical and present-day discrimination.

As a Black woman, I recognize that when a people are enslaved for 246 years and then forced straight into centuries of fighting for basic civil rights and human decency, the fallout doesn’t just disappear. The same reality applies to Indigenous communities, who faced genocide and were not recognized as citizens on their own land until the early twentieth century, and to the many immigrants and refugees who arrived seeking a better life but instead faced systemic discrimination. Our identities are not something we should apologize for; this month is a reminder that our identities are beautiful in their diversity and that we deserve to live freely and peacefully in our bodies.

Observing Bebe Moore Campbell Minority Mental Health Month is important because it encourages us to challenge the systems that aren’t serving us. It also allows us to move beyond the trauma and highlight the immense resilience, strength, and courage inherent within communities of color.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” 

Given all of this history, there are some clear calls to action. Culturally competent resources should prioritize cultural humility over rigid checklists. This means actively recognizing and unlearning implicit biases, acknowledging historical and ongoing systems of oppression, and centering the lived experiences of people. Truly effective mental health resources must be inclusive, safe, and designed as culturally relevant healing spaces where communities of color feel seen, understood, and supported. 

To other young people of color: I see you, I celebrate you, and I hope you know that seeking help is a sign of strength. You deserve support, healing, and care. 

And to the adults and leaders out there, I call on you to support the mental health of young people of color by improving access to culturally sensitive resources and care that centers our needs, identities, and experiences. This month, and all year long.

The Jed Foundation (JED), a leading national nonprofit that protects the emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults, is one of the many organizations that are amplifying resources curated for diverse communities on getting help, finding the right provider, and prioritizing mental health this month and beyond. Visit JED’s Mental Health Resource Center for more personalized content, and make sure to prioritize your well-being both this July and throughout the year.