Why We Observe National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to call attention to the challenges that people of color and their communities face with regard to mental health and mental health care. We observe National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month because people who are Black, Asian American, Native American, Hispanic, or are members of other underrepresented groups commonly face barriers to mental health treatment.

Because the federal government is not recognizing National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month this year, our participation is even more essential. As advocates for mental health and suicide prevention, we want people to know how to identify, talk about, support others with, and secure effective treatment for mental health conditions.

Mental health care concerns for underrepresented communities

At Families for Depression Awareness (FFDA), we are concerned that suicide rates have been increasing faster for Black boys and Asian American youth than their peer groups. We know that Native American communities and LGBTQ+ people have disproportionately high rates of suicide. Negative attitudes about mental health (stigma) deter individuals in underrepresented groups from acknowledging mental health concerns and seeking care. People of color are less likely to receive mental health treatment than non-Hispanic white people.

Mental health care is generally less accessible for people in communities of color. But it is likely to get worse. Budget reductions to Medicaid and other health insurance programs will impact access to mental health care for individuals and families. Hospitals that rely on Medicaid reimbursement will face increased risk of closing.

The mental health workforce is inadequate to meet demand, and only a small percentage of mental health care providers are members of underrepresented groups. The federal government’s actions against people of color in higher education may eventually result in fewer psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers, and other mental health professionals to serve communities of color. We hope that state governments and professional associations (e.g., American Psychological Association) will continue their recruitment and training efforts.

Helpful resources from FFDA for minority mental health 

How does FFDA observing National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month help? It gives us the opportunity to highlight some of our resources so that people can easily find education and actionable advice to help themselves and their families. Our free programs provide information, inspiration, and practical strategies to families – especially family caregivers – so they can support their loved ones with depression or bipolar disorder while also taking care of themselves. As you look through our website and our videos, we hope you see that FFDA strives to serve everyone who is concerned about someone living with depression or bipolar disorder.

Sometimes we are able to highlight issues of particular concern to communities of color. For example, our “Why It’s Hard to Get Care and Get Well: Breaking Barriers to Good Mental Health” webinar last year examined challenges that families face as they try to obtain mental health care. Some of those challenges disproportionately affect people of color. When we presented our webinar, “Sharing Mental Health Information in Your Family,” we aimed to help people face down stigma and start conversations about mental health.

Our family stories, which we share as videos or written accounts, present a variety of experiences with, and perspectives on, mental health care.* We produce expert interviews about a range of topics, such as the importance of respecting culture in mental health care from the point of view of a Native American clinician and how faith communities can address suicide prevention, explained by a person who leads a faith-based suicide prevention coalition. In Massachusetts, we offer free workshops for parents and other caring adults about teen depression (in English or Spanish) and Black youth mental health.

There’s always more that can be done. FFDA will keep working to bring information and perspectives that inspire family caregivers, reduce stigma, and encourage people to get the help they deserve. And when we observe National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in 2026, we’ll have the opportunity to reflect on our progress!

If you’d like to share your family’s experience with mental health (especially depression or bipolar disorder), please fill out our Volunteer Form.