Mental Health Resources for the Black Community

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsExpandThe Boris Lawrence Henson FoundationThe Liberate Meditation AppBlack Therapists RockTherapy for Black GirlsTherapy for Black MenTherapy in ColorThe Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA)Black Mental WellnessYouTubeView All

Table of ContentsExpandThe Boris Lawrence Henson FoundationThe Liberate Meditation AppBlack Therapists RockTherapy for Black GirlsTherapy for Black MenTherapy in ColorThe Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA)Black Mental WellnessYouTubeView All

Table of ContentsExpand

Expand

The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation

The Liberate Meditation App

Black Therapists Rock

Therapy for Black Girls

Therapy for Black Men

Therapy in Color

The Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA)

Black Mental Wellness

YouTube

View All

The Black community isn’t any less likely than others to develop mental illness, but Black Americans may lack the resources to get help for their psychological problems. They’re greatly underrepresented as patients, even though some reports say Black Americans experience even more psychological distress than other ethnic groups.

In fact, only half of Black adults with mental illness get treatment, according to the nonprofit organization Mental Health America.

A number of factors contribute to this trend. The legacy of systemic racism in health care has bred distrust in communities of color, for example; and just 4% of psychologists practicing today are Black.

Now, add in the cost of treatment, especially for therapists who don’t accept health insurance, and the difficulty that patients with full-time jobs have scheduling therapy appointments during weekdays. It’s easy to see why obtaining therapy can be challenging for Black Americans.

Verywell / Theresa Chiechi

Mental Health Resources for the Black Community

In recent years, mental health organizations and advocates have made a concerted effort to attract Black clientele—creating directories of providers of color, launching mental health apps, and establishing foundations to ensure that Black Americans have access to the resources needed to prioritize their psychological well-being.

These mental health resources and organizations are striving to destigmatize Black mental health and provide support to the Black community.

Actress Taraji P. Henson has not only been open abouther experiences with anxiety, depression, and grief. She’s also become a mental health advocate for Black Americans.

In 2018, the Golden Globe winner launched theBoris Lawrence Henson Foundation, named after her late father, whose mental health suffered from his military service in the Vietnam War. The foundation raises awareness about mental health in the Black community and works to reduce stigma about the issue.

The foundation also partners with other nonprofits to provide scholarships to Black students pursuing mental health careers and works to reduce recidivism in the prison system. It also offers mental health services to youth in urban schools.

Over the past three decades, the suicide rate of Black children between the ages of 5 and 11 is two times greater than the suicide rate of their white counterparts.Black teens are also more likely than white youth to attempt suicide,making outreach in schools a top priority for Henson’s group.

New York-based software engineer Julio Rivera launched theLiberate meditation appin 2019 specifically for people of color. An Afro-Latino, Rivera could not find an online meditation resource designed for Black and Brown people, so he created his own.

Many meditation apps for general audiences may discuss issues such as stress, overwork, busyness, and relationships. Liberate includes guided audio meditations and presentations related to topics including sleep, mindfulness, ancestors, and gratitude.

Additionally, the app provides meditations that touch on the pain of racial discrimination and shows users how to honor and nurture their feelings in the wake of microaggressions (subtle forms of racism) that can take a toll on a person’s mental health over time.

Other meditations on the app encourage users to think of all the people who care for and support them. Although Liberate users come from all racial backgrounds, Black women comprise the largest group of users, according to Rivera.

Therapy for Black Girlsaims to make therapy more accessible for Black women and lift the veil on mental health in the Black community.

Therapy for Black Menworks to change the perception that therapy is a sign of weakness and make therapy easier for Black men and boys to access. It includes a national directory of roughly 150 therapists and 30 coaches (providing help for issues such as relationships, weight loss, and confidence-building) who are equipped to provide culturally competent care to Black men.

The organization also provides financial assistance for economically disadvantaged Black Americans, a blog, and articles about topics such as relationships and triggers.

Aiming to destigmatize therapy, the organization includes a blog, directory of therapists, and resources to help patients better manage anxiety and other mental health problems. It is the brainchild of licensed psychotherapistAshley Bryant, who advocates for inclusivity in the mental health realm.

With adatabase of Black psychiatrists, a questionnaire to match prospective patients with therapists, and other resources, theBlack Mental Health Alliancepromotes and organizes educational forums, training, and referral services to support the Black community.

The organization has also provided school-based mental health services, fatherhood initiatives, and after-school programs. BMHA programs and workshops are culturally relevant and addressrace-based trauma, structural racism, andmental health stigmain the Black community.

Black Mental Wellnesscollaborates with community stakeholders to provide culturally relevant educational resources about Black mental health. It offers training opportunities for Black mental health professionals and students interested in pursuing mental health and wellness careers.

The organization also providesfact sheetsabout mental health problems such as ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorders.

CBT May Not Be the Best Fit For Black Patients Seeking Therapy

Some mental health professionals share their expertise with audiences on YouTube. Among them is Atlanta-based psychiatristTracey Marks, MD, who uploads weekly videos about a variety of mental health topics, including mood disorders, personality disorders, medication, and treatment options. With more than a half-million subscribers, Marks is one of the most popular mental health professionals on YouTube.

You can also find licensed professional counselors such asTámara Hill, psychologistJoy Harden Bradfordof Therapy for Black Girls, andBlack Therapists Rockon the site, among many others.

YouTube is no substitute for seeing a trained psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional. That said, the licensed experts who share their knowledge on the platform can help Black people better understand mental health topics, find professionals who look like them, and connect with other Black Americans interested in learning more about mental health.

Some viewers have their own mental health struggles, while others want to better understand their loved one’s experiences.

Mental Health Resources for the Black Community

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health.Mental and behavioral health - African Americans.Mental Health America.Black and African American communities and mental health.Lin L, Stamm K, Christidis P.How diverse is the psychology workforce?.Monit Psychol. 2018;49(2):19.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Alarming suicide trends in African American children: an urgent issue.Sturdivant Sani C.Think meditation could help cope with microaggressions? There’s an app for that.Washington Post.

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health.Mental and behavioral health - African Americans.Mental Health America.Black and African American communities and mental health.Lin L, Stamm K, Christidis P.How diverse is the psychology workforce?.Monit Psychol. 2018;49(2):19.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Alarming suicide trends in African American children: an urgent issue.Sturdivant Sani C.Think meditation could help cope with microaggressions? There’s an app for that.Washington Post.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health.Mental and behavioral health - African Americans.Mental Health America.Black and African American communities and mental health.Lin L, Stamm K, Christidis P.How diverse is the psychology workforce?.Monit Psychol. 2018;49(2):19.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Alarming suicide trends in African American children: an urgent issue.Sturdivant Sani C.Think meditation could help cope with microaggressions? There’s an app for that.Washington Post.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health.Mental and behavioral health - African Americans.

Mental Health America.Black and African American communities and mental health.

Lin L, Stamm K, Christidis P.How diverse is the psychology workforce?.Monit Psychol. 2018;49(2):19.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Alarming suicide trends in African American children: an urgent issue.

Sturdivant Sani C.Think meditation could help cope with microaggressions? There’s an app for that.Washington Post.

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