Celebrating Black Excellence in Mental Health
Honor the profound contributions of Black leaders and advocates by reading an inspiring narrative that celebrates Black excellence in mental health awareness and the transformative power of culturally relevant support.
Celebrating Black Excellence in Mental Health
Date: February 5, 2024
Author: Brittany Oneill
This Black History Month, let's shine a light on the incredible contributions of Black Americans to mental health awareness. Among the unsung heroes, Bebe Moore Campbell stands tall as a beacon of hope and change.
Bebe Moore Campbell was not just an American author and journalist, but a passionate teacher and mental health advocate who dedicated her life to illuminating the mental health needs of the Black community and other marginalized groups.
In her quest to make a difference, she founded NAMI-Inglewood in a predominantly Black neighborhood, creating a sanctuary for open discussions on mental health concerns. Her advocacy journey didn’t stop there—she brought her mission to the national stage, all the way to Washington, DC.
Thanks to her relentless efforts, on June 2, 2008, Congress established Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This recognition serves as a vital step toward addressing the unique challenges underrepresented communities face concerning mental illness in the US.
Let’s honor Bebe Moore Campbell’s legacy by continuing to advocate for mental health awareness and inclusivity. Her work reminds us of the power of voice, advocacy, and the importance of creating spaces for healing and understanding.
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"Every experience I've had with MHP thus far has been great, from the training to being able to get support, a community, sponsorships to go places I never thought I'd go."
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"MHP has a long history of being a really trusted and reliable resource for peer specialists.
So these experiences already live within your walls."
"The incredible empowerment and the impact that peers have in the field of mental health."
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"...and just that little click. Wow, it's so powerful just to have somebody who understands exactly how you feel, because we can sympathize all day, but to have somebody else in the room with me, to say, I've done it too, I've experienced that too, allows for a bond that goes beyond words."
"That opened me up to talk to other people so I could coach them and have them get the aha moment again. I did it and I'm glad that I got into new ways of thinking."
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"And I hope that everybody would get the opportunity to connect with that organization"
"At Mental Health Partnerships. Together..."
"Together..."
"Together..."
"Together...we build hope."
"Together...we build hope."
"We build hope."
"We build hope."
"Together...we build hope."
"Together...we build hope."
"Together...we build hope."
"Period!"
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