July is one of the hottest months of the year for NAMI NC and not just because of the summer temperature. In 2008, July was designated as the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month(MMHAM) by the U.S. House of Representatives. Though important all year round, we are focusing throughout this month to make mental health for minorities, including Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), a hot topic!
On Thursday, July 8, at 1 p.m. ET: NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., will take part in a virtual symposium “Erase the Stigma Not Her Name: The State of Mental Health in Communities of Color*” featuring national mental health thought leaders, health experts and advocates to discuss the state of mental health in communities of color. To attend, register here.
MMHAM is a great time to announce NAMI NC’s new support group for Spanish speakers (see item below)! As of 2018, the Census Bureau estimated that there were almost 60 million Latinos/Hispanics living in the United States (about 18% of the overall population). Approximately 10,000,000 within this community report having a mental health condition, yet, only 20% of Latinos who experience symptoms of a psychological disorder talk to a doctor about their symptoms, and only 10% contact a mental health professional. This is an incredible number of people in the U.S. not receiving much needed treatment.
Within the Latinx community, there are a variety of barriers that restrict access to mental health treatment. From a language barrier to insurance availability to a lack of cultural understanding from a medical professional, many Latinos will not seek out the treatment they may need.
More information about mental health in the Latinx community and resources to find help can be found here.
*In partnership with NAMI, NAMI Urban LA, American Psychiatric Association, Hurdle, Affinity, Hillcrest Children and Family Center and other mental health organizations.
