Minority Mental Health Awareness
Helping people in need or crisis
and honoring mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell
By Rosanna Wakley
Knightly News Reporter
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, officially known as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was established by the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2008 to raise awareness of and to improve mental health services for racial and ethnic minority communities. The designation honors the late advocate Bebe Moore Campbell for her efforts to bring attention to mental health disparities.
Campbell, a prolific author, NAMI Urban Los Angeles cofounder and mental health champion, worked across cultural lines to break stigma and to strengthen mental health supports in underserved communities. She passed away in November 2006; two years later, Congress honored her legacy by designating July for this observance.
Psychology’s racial homogeneity persists, though progress is emerging
While efforts to diversify the psychology workforce are growing, the field remains predominantly White. A 2019 Center for Workforce Studies report found that 83 percent of practicing psychologists identified as White, with Hispanic and Asian psychologists representing just 7 percent and 4 percent, respectively. More recent estimates show that approximately 84 percent of the workforce is non-Hispanic White, while 16 percent identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian, Indigenous or multiracial.
That lack of representation has real-world consequences—especially in care outcomes.
Despite affecting all racial and ethnic groups, mental illness remains significantly undertreated in minority populations. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the U.S. Surgeon General, African Americans with depression or anxiety are far less likely to receive treatment than their White counterparts. Similar disparities persist across other communities of color, driven by factors like cost, stigma, provider bias and a shortage of culturally competent care.
Signs of change
The American Psychological Association (APA) highlights a more hopeful shift beginning in the classroom. In 2022, 45 percent of psychology bachelor’s degrees were earned by students from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, surpassing their share of the U.S. population. However, that diversity sharply declines at higher levels. Non-white professionals still make up less than 20 percent of the psychology workforce, underscoring the disconnect between educational pipelines and professional inclusion.
This dual narrative educational progress on one end and structural gaps on the other underscores the urgency and the opportunity for building a more inclusive mental health system.
Why culturally competent care matters
Mental health treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Effective care must recognize and respect the cultural values, beliefs, languages1 and lived experiences of the people being served. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health stresses that culturally and linguistically appropriate services are essential to improving access, building trust and reducing stigma in historically underserved communities.
For many people of color, cultural perceptions of mental illness shaped by religion, community dynamics, generational trauma and past experiences with the healthcare system can influence how symptoms are expressed and whether treatment is sought, experts say. When providers fail to consider these nuances, it can lead to misdiagnosis, disengagement or complete avoidance of care.
Language barriers, lack of diverse providers and implicit bias further widen the gap. Patients are more likely to engage in and benefit from therapy when they feel seen, heard and understood, not just clinically but culturally. Studies show that culturally competent care improves communication, enhances patient satisfaction, and leads to better mental health outcomes.
Creating a more inclusive and effective system requires training clinicians in cultural humility, hiring a more diverse workforce and integrating community voices into policy and program development. Without these efforts, the mental health system risks leaving behind those who may need it most.
Observances and resources
Each July, organizations like the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Steinberg Institute, in partnership with NAMI and Mental Health America, hold events, including webinars, workshops and targeted campaigns, to foster culturally sensitive care and community engagement.
The organization Mental Health America offers its BIPOC Mental Health Month toolkit for 2025, featuring self-care worksheets, a resource list, community-building guides and advocacy resources to promote healing across culturally diverse communities (mhanational.org).
Moving awareness to action
This month isn’t just about visibility—it’s also about accountability.
Advocates call for:
- Increased funding to train diverse, bilingual mental health professionals.
- Mandatory cultural-competency training for providers.
- Community-informed outreach to reduce barriers like stigma and mistrust.
If you or someone you know is struggling or is in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting HELLO to 741741.
To get involved or learn more:
- U.S. House resolution and details: H.Con.Res. 134 (2007–08) (congress.gov)
- NAMI Bebe Moore Campbell Awareness Month info and resources (nami.org)
- Mental Health America’s BIPOC toolkit (2025) (mhanational.org)
APA workforce diversity data (apa.org)
Who was Bebe Moore Campbell?
Bebe Moore Campbell (1950–2006) was a best-selling author, journalist and fierce mental health advocate.
She brought national attention to the unique mental health challenges faced by Black communities and other communities of color—long before it was a mainstream conversation.
In 2005, Campbell cofounded NAMI Urban Los Angeles to advocate for culturally competent care and to dismantle stigma within marginalized groups. Her advocacy led to the establishment of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in July, a resolution passed by Congress in 2008, two years after her death.
“People of color really don’t want to say (we struggle with mental illness) because we already feel stigmatized by virtue of skin color…and we don’t want any more reasons for anyone to say, ‘You’re not good enough,’” she said.
Her legacy lives on through ongoing efforts to ensure mental health care is accessible, respectful and represents all communities.
–Rosanna Wakley
Comment or story idea? Contact [email protected].
Edited by media-club co-adviser and blog editor Professor Michael Lear-Olimpi.
