Mental Health Resources for minorities and for allies
Finding Mental Health Care that Fits Your Cultural Background
Questions to ask a provider to gauge level of cultural sensitivity (from NAMI.org)
Have you treated other [insert ethnicity ID]?
Have you received training in cultural competence or [insert ethnicity ID] mental health?
How do you see our cultural backgrounds influencing our communication and my treatment?
Whether you seek help from a primary care doctor or a mental health professional, you should finish your sessions with health professionals feeling heard and respected.
You may want to ask yourself:
Did my provider communicate effectively?
Is my provider willing to integrate my beliefs, practices, identity and cultural background into my treatment plan?
Did I feel like I was treated with respect and dignity?
Do I feel like my provider understands and relates well with me?
The relationship and communication between a person and their mental health provider is a key aspect of treatment. It’s very important for a person to feel that their identity is understood by their provider in order to receive the best possible support and care.
Support for Indigenous People
Counseling, workshops, trainings, and consulting. "Encourages healing that centers the ancestral wisdom and cultural practices from our own lineages, reclaiming the healing practices of our ancestors."
Finding Treatment and Support
If finances are preventing you from finding help, contact a local health or mental health clinic or your local government to see what services you qualify for. You can find contact information online at findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling the National Treatment Referral Helpline at 800-662-HELP(4357)
Therapy app for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities
Woman's Initiative: Provides mental health services regardless of ability to pay
A list of POC therapists who are currently accepting new clients for teletherapy right now as people struggle with the pandemic.
The 730 Podcast explores how mental health issues intersect with Black culture
Support for LBGTQ+ People
Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386; Trevor Chat; Trevor Text: START to 678-678
Community-focused resource for non-binary health
Therapy app for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities
Support for Black People
Support for Black Americans
Black Mental Health Resources: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Support for Black Women
Balanced Black Girl Community Healing Guide
Support for Black Men
The Breakdown is a Mental Health Podcast that focuses on topics related to Black boys and men
Support for Black Trans People
Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, 1-855-624-7715
The Okra Project pays Black Trans chefs to go into the homes of Black Trans people to cook them a healthy and home-cooked meal at absolutely no cost to our Black TGNC siblings Trans Advocacy Coalition
Support for Asian People
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Therapy Directory
Directory of South Asian/Bengali Mental Health Professionals
Support for Deaf People
Minority Mental Health for Allies
Educate yourself on microaggressions, which have demonstrated negative impacts on mental health of minorities, by reading Microaggressions: Clarification, Evidence, and Impact by M. Williams (2019), published in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science
Learn about the impacts of stigma and prejudice as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic
Pay attention to the actions on how you can reduce stigma. The pandemic has disproportionately affected communities of color and minority groups, which may further strain those struggling with mental wellness, leading to enhanced strain on their mental health. As an ally, it is important to understand this disparity and how it relates to access to medical services.
Additionally, stigma plays a significant part in why minority individuals report not seeking out mental health services. Allies need to be aware of this dichotomy. For the majority of white people, seeing a therapist carries connotations of luxury, of success, etc; it is normalized behavior; while in communities of color, stigmas propagate the idea that seeking therapy indicates weakness, is a waste of money, etc.
Understanding the context of racial inequality that impacts mental health
Understanding and addressing the social determinants of health that impact mental health
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Page on Achieving Health Equity: Information about why health equity matters and what you can do to help give everyone a fair shot at being as healthy as they can be
Improving the health of African Americans in the USA: an overdue opportunity for social justice, Noonan et al., 2016. Public Health Reviews
Hidden Influencers: Tackling the social and behavioral determinants of health
Ways To Take Action As An Ally Or Champion For People Of Color