I think we all know that I’m all in on mental health. I think it is a hugely important piece of everyone’s life, and we can all always be doing work to improve ourselves. So somewhat naturally, I’ve found myself drawn to mental health resources and advocates lately. Here are a few of my favorites in no particular order (yes a lot is Instagram, I love Instagram OK?) This is by no means an exhaustive list, there are so many people out there doing wonderful things, but these are some organizations and people that I personally follow or use as resources and have found helpful.

Of particular importance to me is the mental health of BIPOC parents. We know that Black women experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders at twice the rate of white women. TWICE. Think that through. We also know that Black people and other People of Color are less likely to receive treatment for mental health. Additionally, COVID is disproportionately impacting BIPOC, further exacerbating stress levels and potentially mental health issues.

This list can absolutely be used by People of Color to help find their own therapist or resources, but I specifically want to direct the attention of white people to the work that is being done by BIPOC. Follow these leaders and organizations. Listen. Absorb their words. Share their messages (and always always ALWAYS give credit!)

The Loveland Foundation

This is such a freaking cool organization. It was stared by Rachel Cargle, in order to support Black women and girls in their healing. The Loveland Foundation also has a therapy fund that directly helps Black women and girls access therapy. You can directly donate to the Loveland Foundation here. Or sign up to be on the waitlist for financial assistance for mental health treatment here.

Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-24%2Bat%2B4.14.07%2BPM.jpg

Black Mamas Matter Alliance
In their words: “BMMA was created out of a need to form an entity that can hold space and serve as a platform for Black women-led initiatives that are working to address the issues that impact maternal health disparities and inequities using the human rights, reproductive justice, and birth justice frameworks across all sectors.” They also have a wonderful downloadable toolkit in their resources section.
Shades of You, Shades of Me
This is an AMAZING conference being held in Milwaukee in October. It centers on multicultural maternal mental health, and is the only conference to do so. This year there will be a hybrid of in person and virtual sessions. Check their website to learn more, become a sponsor or vendor, or register to attend! PSI-WI will also be giving full scholarships to some attendees this year.
Therapy for Black Girls
Therapy for Black Girls keeps an ever growing list of Therapists of Color. Therapists of Color can also sign up to be on the resource list that they keep. The founder, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, also has a podcast and aims to “make mental health topics more relevant and accessible for Black women”. You can also donate directly to this organization on their website.
Morgan Harper Nichols
Morgan Harper Nichols is an artist and creates amazingly beautiful work with encouraging and uplifting messages. She has wallpapers on her Instagram that I save constantly and use on my phone. She also sells her designs at her online shop, Garden 24.
The Nap Ministry
Again, their words describe what they do better than I ever could: “The Nap Ministry was founded in 2016 by Tricia Hersey and is an organization that examines the liberating power of naps. We engage with the power of performance art, site-specific installations, and community organizing to install sacred and safe spaces for the community to rest together. We facilitate immersive workshops and curate performance art that examines rest as a radical tool for community healing. We believe rest is a form of resistance and name sleep deprivation as a racial and social justice issue.”
Therapy for Black Men
A page for Black men to find a therapist or coach as well as other resources. Black therapists can also sign up to be listed on their page. Donate to their organization here.
Dr. Jennifer Mullan (Decolonizing Therapy)
“Dr. Jennifer Mullan (Pronouns: She/ Her) creates spaces for people and organizations to heal.She believes that it is essential to create dialogue to address how mental health is deeply affected by systemic inequities and the trauma of oppression, particularly the well-being of Queer Indigenous Black Brown People of Color (QIBPOC).”
Alicia McCullough
Alicia is a therapist and social justice warrior. She co-founded the #amplifymelanatedvoices challenge that happened at the beginning of June on Instagram. She also founded the Holistic Black Healing Collective, anti-oppression and integrative support network for Black and Brown folks.
Black Mental Wellness
In short, all about Black mental wellness. They have really thought provoking posts and I’ve definitely gotten lost own a rabbit hole on their IG page before. It is a wealth of information.
Oh Happy Dani
Danielle Coke is an artist with beautiful messages of hope, faith, and justice. See a few of her pieces below.