3 Ways Non-Black Allies can Support Black Mental Health

Black lives matter. Black bodies matter.  That means black mental health has to matter, too.
 
Black people in America are disproportionately affected by mental health issues and poor access to psychological treatment.  Research shows that historical adversity such as slavery, sharecropping, racial violence, and race-based exclusion from social services (think healthcare and education) results in a lower socioeconomic status.  Low socioeconomic status, as I also discussed in this post, increases the risk for poor mental health.  Put this on top of centuries of racial oppression and inequality and you have a perfect storm for a mental health crisis.
 
Current protests, while necessary, can also leave our black brothers feeling more anxious, hopeless, and on edge.  As a result, black mental health is as an important as ever.  Here are some ways non-BIPOC allies can help:
 

• Educate Yourself: It is not the responsibility of black people to educate others on the racial injustice and inequality in America.  Instead, it is your responsibility to educate yourself.  Search out books, articles, and documentaries on the subject.  This article is a great place to start.   

 

• Donate to organizations that support black mental health: Unfortunately, a majority of mental health charities are still led by and focused on white mental health.  Here are some organizations that specifically focus on the mental health of the black community:
  
  
  • Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation: provides free virtual therapy for black people of low socioeconomic status
  • The Loveland Foundation: their therapy fund provides free therapy sessions for black women and girls
  • The Siwe Project: promotes mental health awareness throughout the global black community to encourage more people to seek treatment
  • Ourselves Black: strives to provide relevant, current, engaging mental health content and stories specifically routed in communities of color
  • Therapy for Black Girls: aims to grow and sustain an engaged community focused on the mental health needs of black women and girls
• Have Tough Conversations: Educate your friends and family about racial injustice in person and online.  Discuss the increased risk of and barriers to treatment for mental health disorders in the black community.  Encourage your friend and family to speak up and support black mental health causes.  The world will never change without difficult dialogue.

 
Obviously, this is a less-than exhaustive list - but it’s a start.  I encourage you to share your own resources in the comments below so we can all support this cause.  Together, and only together, can we help improve the lives and mental health of the black community in America.