With the month of July approaching, now is the time to start planning for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month! “Formally recognized in June 2008, Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, [or BIPOC Mental Health Month] was created to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face regarding mental illness in the United States. ”
The AHRQ Academy includes several resources to help prepare for BIPOC Mental Health month. The Topic Brief on Health Equity represents a brief overview of the role of behavioral health integration in reducing disparities in health and healthcare. Items on stigma can be found in both the Unhealthy Alcohol Use Tools & Resources Collection, and the Substance Use Tools & Resources Collection (which also includes items on Social Determinants of Health). In addition, the Academy Literature Collection includes journal articles and grey literature related to Healthcare Disparities.
Several other organizations have also posted information and resources to help people get involved with BIPOC Mental Health Month, including the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).