In 2008, July was designated as the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month by the U.S. House of Representatives. There have been recent attempts to change the month’s name, but at NAMI, we continue to recognize the importance of honoring Bebe Moore Campbell. Her trailblazing work in helping to shift the mental health culture and break down systemic barriers in underserved communities should be recognized forever.
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Mental health affects us all and everyone should have the right to be heard and healed without shame or judgment. Bebe Moore Campbell was committed to creating safe spaces for people in communities of color to connect with others who share similar experiences and cultural backgrounds. These safe spaces served as a gateway to vital mental health resources and support networks.
This July — and beyond — we’re not only honoring Bebe Moore Campbell’s legacy, but continuing it by empowering, uplifting and elevating historically underrepresented communities in their mental health journeys, while eradicating stigma and elevating communities.
Help us honor Bebe Moore Campbell. Join us during Minority Mental Health Month and use your voice and share your story as we fearlessly reshape mental health conversations and eliminate the systemic barriers that impact communities of color. Together, let us forge a path of lasting change and empowerment.
Sign up to receive more information on how you can shift the mental health culture in your family and community through conversation. You can inspire others who may be silently struggling. Your story and resilience have the power to inspire and uplift those around you.
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#ShadesofMentalHealth recognizes and celebrates the rich diversity and uniqueness within the mental health community. It encourages inclusivity, empathy and understanding while striving for more equitable and culturally competent approaches to mental health support and care.
Use #ShadesofMentalHealth on your favorite social channels to help us shift the culture through the power of courageous conversations and amplify the message that there is strength in vulnerability.
Don’t forget to tag us at @NAMICommunicate on Instagram and Twitter and @NAMI on TikTok and Facebook.
We encourage you to share the posts and graphics below (access our full set of graphics here). Don’t forget to tag us at @NAMICommunicate on Instagram and Twitter and @NAMI on TikTok and Facebook and use our hashtag #ShadeofMentalHealth!
Let’s join forces to confront and break down harmful stigmas and systemic barriers which perpetuate mental health inequalities in communities of color. #ShadesofMentalHealth
By sharing our stories and experiences, we break the silence and raise awareness about mental health in communities of color. Join me in creating a safe space for open conversations. #ShadesofMentalHealth
Everyone deserves culturally competent mental health care that acknowledges and respects the intersection of their identity and experiences. #ShadesofMentalHealth
My mental health journey is a testament to my courage and determination. I am rewriting the narrative and creating a brighter future for myself.
I refuse to let societal stereotypes and stigma define me. I am breaking barriers, paving the way for mental health awareness and acceptance. #ShadesofMentalHealth
In communities of color, let’s create spaces where people can prioritize their mental health, where their voices are heard, where support thrives and flows freely and where healing can take root. #ShadesofMentalHealth
I am a person of color on a mental health journey, and I embrace my resilience and strength every step of the way. #ShadesofMentalHealth
Include some of our social media graphics in your posts throughout the month of July.
Hashtag to use: #ShadesofMentalHealth
Hope Starts With Us: Bebe Moore Campbell’s Legacy – Mental Health for All
On this podcast, Daniel H. Gillison Jr., CEO of NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness), brings important mental health topics to light, one conversation at a time.
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with friends of Bebe Moore Campbell, Dr. Linda Wharton-Boyd and Nancy Carter about Bebe’s impact and how we can all play a role in keeping her legacy alive.
Join our movement to advocate for a better mental health care system by signing up for advocacy alerts and taking action when opportunities arise in your community.
From Gang Member to Mental Health Advocate
Read More >The Blizzard of Depression and the Importance of Compassion
Read More >NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).