BIPOC Mental Health Month is celebrated every year in July to raise awareness for underrepresented groups who face additional barriers to mental health. This blog will teach you about the meaning of BIPOC, mental health challenges, and supportive resources to share with your community.
Unpacking BIPOC
First, what does BIPOC stand for?
BIPOC is an acronym that stands for “Black, Indigenous, People of Color.” This is an inclusive, all-encompassing term to represent statistically marginalized identities. We use this umbrella term in place of “minority” to shift the narrative away from these racial groups as being seen as less than. Instead, we emphasize the beauty in diversity and honor the major contributions of BIPOC folks. Also, we need to emphasize that BIPOC aims to put a focus on Black and Indigenous individuals. This is largely due to the systemic racism and intergenerational trauma they have experienced, which is foundational to the United States. We acknowledge that our country was built on the free labor of enslaved Africans and the genocide of Indigenous people. With this history in mind, it is clear to us that not all people of color face equal levels of injustice. Black Americans and Indigenous/native people face unique challenges and have been at the forefront of social justice paving the way for other people of color.
Origin of BIPOC Mental Health Month
So, how did BIPOC Mental Health Month start?
Previously known as National Minority Mental Awareness Health Month, we started celebrating BIPOC Mental Health Month in 2008. This was all thanks to mental health advocate, Bebe Moore Campbell!
“While everyone – all colors – everyone is affected by stigma – no one wants to say ‘I’m not in control of my mind. ‘ No one wants to say, ‘The person I love is not in control of [their] mind.’ But people of color really don’t want to say it because we already feel stigmatized by virtue of skin color or eye shape or accent and we don’t want any more reasons for anyone to say, ‘You’re not good enough.'”
-Bebe Moore Campbell
Bebe Moore Campbell was an American author and teacher who co-founded the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Urban Los Angeles. Through her projects, she addressed the stigma around mental health in the Black community. This stigma creates a negative narrative that therapy is a “white-only” problem and discourages individuals from asking for help. Campbell dedicated her life to unpacking this stigma and advocating for the mental health needs of under-resourced groups. This advocacy was especially personal to her after having a daughter, Maia, who struggled with mental illness. Campbell was extremely disappointed in the lack of culturally appropriate care available and tirelessly fought for youth like Maia to find a safe space within NAMI. We honor Campbell’s legacy during BIPOC Mental Health Month, and we continue her work to create more inclusive spaces.
BIPOC Stats: By the Numbers
Our mental health is heavily influenced by who and what surrounds us. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color often have lived experiences of racism, poverty, or community violence. These stressors cause lasting trauma and an overall decrease in mental health. Generally speaking, BIPOC individuals are not always given culturally responsive care. Some might even undergo abuse or discrimination from healthcare professionals, which further increases stigma and negative views of therapy.
Systemic & Structural Racism
We want to start by talking about how laws and interconnected systems can oppress a racial group.
With certain political and economic policies in place, Black Americans face barriers to generational wealth, food security, quality healthcare, advanced education, etc. We notice that these barriers make it hard to achieve upward mobility. This can add a unique layer of psychological distress causing many to operate in survival mode. If in survivor mode for too long, they can develop negative effects such as memory loss, burnout, sleep disorders, and a compromised immune system. Many of our clients who exhibit these symptoms are hypervigilant or have heightened anxiety.
Secondary & Multi-generational Trauma
Next, let’s talk about how we absorb our surroundings and learn about trauma from our family systems.
How is trauma passed down? We can inherit trauma from our parents, grandparents, and even ancestors. Due to land loss and colonialism, Indigenous culture stems from historical trauma. Many grow up with an understanding that their trauma is connected to their identity. This inherited trauma can be a lot to unpack, causing intense feelings of depression. Native youth can develop post-traumatic stress and do not have a lot of supportive resources to utilize. Unfortunately, they are the most at-risk population with higher rates of suicide than other ethnic groups.
Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric & Racial Violence
Finally, we will discuss negative perspectives towards immigrants in the United States.
Both Asian and Latinx populations have become victims of racialized violence due to negative immigrant narratives. Despite similarities in their experiences, Asian and Latinx groups are frequently pitted against each other in the form of “good” or “bad” immigrants.
On one side, Asian Americans are viewed as the “model minority” or an example for other racial groups to follow suit. Therefore, they may face resentment from other racial groups. We believe these negative stereotypes create pressure on our youth to achieve academic and economic success at all costs. Many Asian parents reinforce this expectation, which can create immense stress and anxiety. Youth that we serve in this ethnic group often develop self-esteem issues, like imposter syndrome, by constantly trying to prove their worth.
Alternatively, Latinx Americans are perpetually viewed as foreigners and outsiders. Many internalize these negative attitudes which leads to developing feelings of isolation and self-hate. Latinx youth we have worked with at The Guidance Center have a difficult time working through identity issues and racial trauma. It is also common for them to not have health insurance. Major factors could be the lack of bilingual services offered by mental health professionals or fear of affecting their status as undocumented. In place of therapy, some may decide to turn to substance abuse as a means to self-medicate.
To clarify, “People of Color” is a broad term and is not limited to these two groups we have shared.
Beyond the Numbers
Despite the challenges, we acknowledge that Black Indigenous People of Color are more than just their statistics.
BIPOC groups have strong communities that have sustained themselves through hardship. We admire their ability to mobilize and build internal support systems or safe spaces. Most have been raised in collectivist cultures, which allows them to consider the bigger picture. Youth have a good understanding of the trauma they inherit and actively work to break generational curses. For example, youth in therapy oftentimes share knowledge and resources with their parents. This fosters community growth and generational healing.
While some communities of color still perpetuate stigma, improvements are being made. We believe it is important to have a basis of cultural understanding to tackle complex issues. Our BIPOC youth deserve quality mental health support and clinicians who show up for them. This is why our clinicians at The Guidance Center are trained to provide culturally appropriate care and are equipped with the resources to meet clients where they are. Every month, we host Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) workshops for staff to grow their advocacy toolkit and learn how to best serve BIPOC youth.
Mental Health Resources
To conclude, we want to share our list of BIPOC-focused mental health resources. Use these resources below to grow your advocacy and educate your community!
- Silence the Shame: a supportive online community focused on reducing the shame and stigma surrounding mental health in vulnerable communities
- Black Girls Smile: mental health services and empowerment for young Black women.
- Yellow Chair Collective: a culturally responsive, LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy for Asian Americans.
- Latinx Therapy Network: a mental health collective focused on des-stigmatizing therapy for Latinx folks.
- Aakoma Project: a nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing young adults of color to advocate for their own mental health needs and encourage their families to seek support.