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Ready for Episode 3 of Black Voices of Mental Health?
This time we’ve got four amazing ladies who are building amazing communities on and offline. Not only that, they are hard at work providing culturally relevant MH resources for BIPOC patients. I can’t wait to tell you about them, but first:
A Quick Word
I want to take a moment to address something important.
At the request of one of my readers, I was encouraged to include the experiences of bloggers of color who focused on severe mental illness, either of their own or others.
The problem was, it was really difficult for me to find information on the subject. There are very few first hand accounts of Black Mental Illness. And even fewer resources for BIPOC who might be struggling with severe mental illness like bipolar or schizophrenia.
Through my research, I’ve found a lot of Black Voices of Mental Health. But I had to dig through a lot of content online to find them.
Let’s put it this way: When you search for MH bloggers on Google, it’s a mostly whitewashed affair. In fact one of the highest ranked links that comes up when I search the words Black Mental Health Bloggers is an article called “Best Mental Health Bloggers You Need to Follow,” which is a list of 4 white ladies. Check it out yourself. (it’s at the bottom of the first page)
That’s not how it should be.
How You Can Help
You may not think your internet activity has much to do with social justice and MH reform, but it very much does.
Every time you read, backlink, watch, and share the Voices of Black Mental Health you’re doing your part to help make them louder and stronger. So share, share, share!! Suggest their sites to your friends on social media.
Do whatever you can (without spamming) to get their SEO noticed by the Google Algorithm and help stop the whitewashing of Mental Health blogging.
That is all! And now back to our regularly scheduled program:
Laqwanda Roberts-Buckley MSSW (Healing Black Women)
Laqwanda Roberts-Buckley is an amazing presence in the Black Mental Health community. She is a Mental Health clinician behind the site Healing Black Women, a safe space for Black women to learn to mend body, mind and soul.
She also runs a Youtube channel, Laqwanda’s Heart where she talks about her challenges with Bipolar Disorder.
Not only is Laqwanda a YouTube presence but she’s also a brilliant writer. Check out her blog, Healing Black Women. I’ve included a few highlights of her most recent blog posts but I highly recommend you tour through the entire Healing Black Women site, it’s phenomenal.
Oh and remember to follow Laqwanda and Healing Black Women on Facebook (@healingblackwomen)
Getting Back to Life After A Crisis
3 Reasons Why Saying F*ck This is Self Care (My Personal Fave)
Struggling to do Life’s Small Sh*t? It’s Okay!
And many more!
Sarah Y. Vinson M.D. (Ourselves Black Magazine)
Sarah Y. Vinson runs Ourselves Black, an online and print magazine, sharing “Unapolegetically….Our Images, Our Narratives, Our Mental Health.” Since it’s inception, Ourselves Black has grown into a community where people can join the discussion through the “Field Notes” feature.
The site also provides options to read online or purchase the magazine in print (a great way to support OB). You can also listen to Dr. Vinson’s Podcast where she interviews other mental health professionals and shares stories unique to the black experience with mental health
You can check the Podcast out here: https://ourselvesblack.com/ob-podcast/2018/7/24/ep-1-h7596-9dhgz. The online magazine is a treasure trove of first hand experiences of mental illness, strength, and resilience in the Black community. Here are just a few of the incredible pieces:
Life In First Person: Kristin Wright – Guest Post from Kristin Wright on her brother’s unique challenges as a mentally ill, intellectually disabled Black man; as well as her continuing fight with the system to get him the care he needs.
Words of Influence: Jamie Broadnax – Interview with Black Girl Nerds founder Jamie Broadnax about how social media influencers such as her self maintain good mental health.
Never fade away: The childhood scars of racism – Guest post by journalist Tory N. Parrish on the psychological scars children carry into adulthood from Adverse Childhood Experiences of racism and racial bullying.
And many more! Please remember to follow Ourselves Black on all their channels including Facebook (@ourselvesblack), Twitter (@ourselvesblackm), and YouTube (@Ourselvesblack).
Eliza Boquin, MA, LMFT and Eboni Harris, MA, LPC, LMFT (Melanin and Mental Health)
Eliza Boquin and Eboni Harris created Melanin and Mental Health because of “a desire to connect individuals with culturally competent clinicians committed to serving the mental health needs of Black & Latinx/Hispanic communities.”
Their site, Melanin and Mental Health, provides a directory of Dope Therapists of Color to help the BIPOC community find culturally informed therapists. This awesome resource connects Black and LatinX patients with a clinician they feel comfortable with and whom they can relate to.
Eliza and Eboni also have a podcast called “Between the Sessions” where they talk to industry professionals about the Black Mental Health Experience. Check out some of the highlights here and of course give them a follow on all their social media channels! Facebook(@melaninandmentalhealth), Twitter (@melaninhealth) and YouTube (Melanin and Mental Health)
Podcast Highlights:
Session 89: Mental Health and the Black Man – “Eboni and Eliza were joined by Vaughn O’Neal of CentrePath Counseling to discuss Black men and their mental health.”
Session 81: Leading Through PTSD and Owning Your Voice – “On this episode, Eboni and Eliza are joined by Sahar Paz to discuss using your voice to heal yourself and others.”
Session 77: Racial Battle Fatigue – “Eboni and Eliza are joined by Tirrany Thurmond to discuss racial battle fatigue and how it impacts clients and clinicians.”
Session 80: Teenage Mental Health – “In this session, Eboni and Eliza speak with Chanell Hill about the importance of teenage mental health and adults can support teenagers.”
And many more!
Wrap Up
And there you have it, three (actually four) amazing ladies challenging the stigma of mental health in the Black and BIPOC communities!
Tell us your favorite Black Voices of Mental Health in the comments below. And make sure to like, share, and subscribe to Laqwanada, Sarah, Eliza and Eboni’s socials to help them raise awareness and beat the stigma!!
Much Love,
MB
If you liked this post, you might enjoy:
Black Voices of Mental Health – Episode 1
Black Voices of Mental Health – Episode 2
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I love that this post bring attention to things that going on in society. That you for sharing this story.
Great post
I’m glad you enjoyed it, thank you for reading!!
Thank you for sharing these resources, I clicked through to “ourselves black” site you recommend to read the stories there. We have given way to much authority to main stream media run by huge corporations to tell our stories. What you’ve done here is allow the real voices to tell their story – the real story. There is much power in this … true stories when shared and witnessed build bridges between race, culture, religion, generations. Thank you!
Thank you for reading!! Stories have so much power to make change it’s true!!
Black Voices. White Voices. Yellow Voices. Voices of all colors … purple, red, indigo if they existed. We are all one voice.
Very important issues raised here, some great resources. thanks for sharing! Its nice to see people using there platforms for the better
Thanks so much for reading and I hope you discover and learn lots from these ladies 💖
Thank you for sharing this great list of mental health advocates in the black community! This is such an important topic
You’re welcome, and thank you for reading!