National Minority Mental Health Month

It's July, and you know what that means! We've entered National Minority Mental Health Month! A bit of history on this beautiful month: National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, also known as BIPOC (black, Indigenous, and other people of color) Mental Health Month, is celebrated every July to raise awareness of the unique mental health challenges faced by racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. The month also aims to reduce mental illness stigma and increase treatment access. July was dubbed this month by the US House of Representatives in 2008 to raise awareness and access to mental health resources for these communities. This month is vital in ensuring we, as therapists/care providers, do everything we can to serve all our clients to the best of our abilities.

What makes this month relevant? It's common knowledge that mental health is very stigmatized in minority communities. In 2020, less than 1 in 2 African American adults received mental health care. In 2018, Asian Americans were 60% less likely to receive mental health treatment than non-Hispanic Whites. This is due to lack of insurance, lack of access to treatment, and, of course, stigma. Here in Utah, we see similar numbers reflected in our population. Luckily, we have many resources available to help our minority clients gain access to care. Some resources in our state include, but are not limited to, the Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Latino Behavioral Health Services, and many other resources that can be found at the Utah Center for Evidence-Based Treatments website, AND MORE.

Being of Pacific Islander descent, I have seen and heard firsthand the stigmatization of mental health in my community. It is what led me to become a therapist. I know how heavy it can be to carry familial and cultural traditions. I understand living through and breaking generational curses. I know the effects of being the oldest child in an ethnic home, carrying the responsibility of both parent and child at times. I've also learned the hard way that reaching out for support from others when needed can make a world of difference for one's mental health. As a BIPOC therapist, I'm able to use my lived experience and learned expertise to provide my clients with the best care possible and educate my colleagues on how to approach care with their clients of similar backgrounds. For all BIPOC individuals, it's essential to find a therapist and practice that upholds similar values to you and your culture, and I hope that I can be that for anyone who walks through the doors of Lighthouse Counseling.

Aloisia Suliafu, CSW

385-237-4943

Resources

Commissioner, Office of the."July 2023: Minority Mental Health Awareness Month." U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/consumers/knowledge-and-news-women-owh-blog/national-minority-mental-health-awareness-month#:~:text=July%20is%20National%20Minority%20Mental%20Health%20Awareness%20Month.&text=In%202020%2C%20fewer%20than%20one,treatment%20than%20non%2DHispanic%20Whites.

Commissioner, Office of the. “July 2023: Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/consumers/knowledge-and-news-women-owh-blog/national-minority-mental-health-awareness-month#:~:text=July%20is%20National%20Minority%20Mental%20Health%20Awareness%20Month.&text=In%202020%2C%20fewer%20than%20one,treatment%20than%20non%2DHispanic%20Whites

“Home.” Latino Behavioral, 24 Apr. 2024, latinobehavioral.org

“National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.” National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED) , nned.net/about/nmmham/#:~:text=The%20US%20House%20of%20Representatives,across%20the%20country%20each%20year

“Utah Center for Evidenced Based Treatment - BIPOC.” Utah Center for Evidenced Based Treatment - Home, www.ucebt.com/resources/bipoc.

“Who We Are.” OCA National Center, www.ocanational.org/about

“Who We Are.” UPIHC, www.upihc.org/about/who-we-are