BIPOC Mental Health Month

Formally recognized in June 2008, Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed each July and was created to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face regarding mental illness in the United States. Bebe Moore Campbell was an American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who worked tirelessly to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities.

People and language evolve, and Mental Health America (MHA) has chosen to remove the word “minority” from its annual toolkit and use the designation "BIPOC" to more fairly honor and distinguish the experiences of Blacks, Indigenous People, and People of Color (BIPOC). BIPOC communities face disproportionate inequities in mental health care due to systemic barriers, uninformed or inappropriate care, and trauma resulting from historical adversity.

The identities of LGBTQ+ BIPOC are multidimensional which can compound the trauma experienced. Civil rights advocate Kimberlé W. Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” to describe the way systems of power exclude and oppress people with minority and marginalized identities. Far too often this is the experience for people of color who identify as LGBTQ in foster care, who face higher rates of harassment, trauma, and disruptive placements. To understand the impact of trauma, intersectionality is key. Human Rights Campaign (HRC) All Children - All Families project (ACAF) is helping to bring awareness to the importance of intersectional LGBTQ-inclusion in adoption and foster care agencies around the country. We will be covering intersectionality and mental health disparities more in depth on our social media pages, so be sure to follow along!