Did you know July is BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Mental Health Awareness Month? This month (and all year!), we hope you’ll join us as we amplify BIPOC experiences, resources, and organizations. 

Our recent Kindness Is Action report shows us Black, Indigenous, and youth of color are less likely than white youth to report experiencing kindness, like having someone who believes in them and encourages them to do their best, or someone who listens when they have a problem. As members of our Born This Way Foundation community, you know it’s important we meet young people where they are, especially those at the margins, with much-needed kindness and care. 

Help do that by learning more and spreading the word about these resources that specifically support BIPOC mental health, and amplify these advocates and organizations bringing BIPOC mental health to the forefront:

• Learn more from BIPOC advocates and mental health professionals who joined our BTWF Talks/:
  • Mental Health Awareness in the Black Community
  • Mental Health Awareness in the Latinx Community
  • Mental Health Awareness in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Communities

• Meet these incredible BIPOC youth advocates who are building a kinder and braver world, and join us in spreading the word about their amazing work.
  • 10 Black Youth Trailblazers to Follow in 2021!
  • Sage Dolan-Sandrino Brings Trans Community to the Front With “The TEAM Mag”
  • Teen Tech Genius Helps Connect Kids With Incarcerated Parents
  • 5 Young Asian Activists Building A Kinder World
  • YHELP! Interview: Juan Acosta on Pride, Mental Health + Kindness
  • Voices Unheard: Addressing the Lack of AAPI Mental Health Providers in America
  • We Rise for Mental Health Awareness: A Q&A With Native American Artist Douglas Miles

• Before we go, here are a few organizations and resources that specifically target BIPOC mental health: 
  • Asians for Mental Health was created to help Asians feel validated and empowered in their journeys towards better mental health. Their AAPI Mental Health Directory lists AAPI mental health professionals across the country for members of the AAPI community looking for counseling.  
  • Aakoma Project focuses on the experiences of people of color and works with teenagers and their families to raise awareness on mental health, conduct patient-centered research, and encourage young people to begin conversations in their communities. 
  • Black Mental Health Alliance develops, promotes, and sponsors trusted culturally relevant educational forums, trainings, and referral services that support the health and well-being of Black people and their communities.
  • One Sky Center works to improve the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance abuse problems and services among Native people.
  • Therapy for Black Girls is an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.
  • Therapy for Latinx is an online space that provides resources for the Latinx community to heal, thrive, and become advocates for their own mental health.
  • WeRNative is a comprehensive health resource for Native youth, by Native youth, that provides content and stories about the topics that matter most to them and promotes holistic health and positive growth in local Native communities and the nation at large.

We are so grateful for you and your dedication to the kinder, braver world we are all building together.