July Is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

In 2008, the US House of Representatives designated July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in honor of the leading African American novelist and journalist. Ms. Campbell was a voice for individuals and families of color affected by mental Illness—and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) continues her work by spreading awareness of the barriers of minority mental health and sharing stories from diverse communities. 

As Ms. Campbell said, “Stigma is one of the main reasons why people with mental health problems do not seek treatment or take their medication. People of color, particularly African Americans, feel the stigma more keenly. In a race-conscious society, some don’t want to be perceived as having yet another deficit.”

Now, more than ever, it is important that we take care of ourselves and focus on our mental and emotional well-being. We especially seek to support our Black employees, who may be processing racial trauma. The University’s employee assistance program provider, CCA@YourService, has provided these resources compiled by NAMI for Black, Indigenous, People of Color. We encourage you to review and share these resources as needed.

Support is always available through the Employee Assistance Program. CCA@YourService helps you and your family members by providing free, confidential access to emotional and mental well-being resources, including

• 24/7 phone access to counselors for in-the-moment support
• referrals to short-term professional counseling for any issue that is on your mind
• resources and referrals to support medication management, and self-care for the mind, body, and spirit
• online articles, tips, and self-assessments to help identify signs, symptoms, and treatment options for various conditions.

CCA@YourService can be reached by calling 800-833-8707 or visiting www.myccaonline.com (company code: STJOHNS).

Please stay safe and healthy, and remember to take good care of yourself.

Keaton Wong
Director of Equal Opportunity, Compliance, and Title IX