National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 2008 by the U.S. House of Representatives in honor of mental health advocate, author, and journalist, Bebe Moore Campbell. This month is for recognizing and educating others on the unique mental health obstacles racial and ethnic minorities experience, and advocating for equitable resources to care, and breaking systemic and cultural stigmas surrounding minority mental health. 

Mental health refers to someone’s social, emotional, and mental well-being. Mental health impacts how one may think, feel, and act. Mental illness can stem from a variety of risk factors such as adverse experiences, chemical imbalances in the brain, use of alcohol and drugs, and more. 

According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 5 adults have at least one mental health condition with minority groups being at a higher risk. Additionally, these groups are more likely to be underinsured or not insured at all and face barriers in accessing culturally competent care, making access to care extremely difficult. 

In honor of this month, consider