There is a LOT of institutional racism in the healthcare system, which includes mental healthcare. White women should not continue to be the face of mental health/mental illness.
If you are someone (like me) who has the benefit and privilege of seeing a therapist/psychologist, I strongly encourage you to send funds to these organizations. (I am providing the link to their donation page and will copy their mission below, however I encourage people to do their own research on the websites as well to learn more. I’ve linked the organization’s “about” page next to their mission/vision statement). Some of these organizations have newsletters, which I encourage you to subscribe to as well! If you see this and find something wrong/missing, email me!!!!
Note: This is not an entirely comprehensive list, and I am continuously updating it. I am mainly including organizations that people can donate to/support financially (rather than therapist directories, other resource boards, etc). If anyone is looking for one of those other resources, contact me and I can help!
Organizations!
- https://www.beam.community/donation (BEAM – Black Emotional and Mental Health)
- “Our mission is to remove the barriers that Black people experience getting access to or staying connected with emotional health care and healing. We do this through education, training, advocacy and the creative arts.” – https://www.beam.community/whatwebelieve
- https://www.blackgirlssmile.org/donate (Black Girls Smile)
- “Our vision is of a society that focuses on ensuring all young African American females receive the resources and support necessary to lead mentally healthy lives.” – https://www.blackgirlssmile.org/about_us
- http://www.abpsi.org/culturaltraumarelief.html (The Association of Black Psychologists)
- “The Association of Black Psychologists sees its mission and destiny as the liberation of the African Mind, empowerment of the African Character, and enlivenment and illumination of the African Spirit.” – http://www.abpsi.org/about_mission.html
- https://therapyforblackgirls.com/ (Therapy for Black Girls) – I could not find a specific donation page, but you can buy their merch/book (just scroll down on the page I linked)
- “Therapy for Black Girls is an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.” – https://therapyforblackgirls.com/about/
- https://therapyforblackgirls.com/podcast/ (This is their PODCAST)
- https://saveourplanet.org/projects/nqttcn/ (National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network)
- “National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network is a healing justice organization committed to transforming mental health for queer and trans people of color.” – https://www.nqttcn.com/about-us
- https://thelovelandfoundation.org/ways-to-give/ (The Loveland Foundation)
- “Loveland Foundation is committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing.” – https://thelovelandfoundation.org/loveland-therapy-fund/
- http://www.thesiweproject.org/
- This is an organization whose mission is to promote “mental health awareness throughout the global black community.”
- I could not figure out how to donate, but have emailed them to see if there is an option!
- https://therapyforblackmen.org/
- Providing “proactive, multiculturally competent care to men of color.”
- I could not find a donation page but will investigate more.
- https://blackmenheal.org/donate/ (Black Men Heal)
- Mission: “To provide access to mental health treatment, psycho-education, and community resources to men of color.” – https://blackmenheal.org/
- https://www.letserasethestigma.com/donate – Project LETS
- https://www.letserasethestigma.com/mission (look here to read mission)
- https://www.nalgonapositivitypride.com/support-my-work (Nalgona Positivity Pride)
- “NPP is an in-community eating disorders and body-positive organization dedicated in creating visibility and resources for Black, Indigenous, communities of color.” – https://www.nalgonapositivitypride.com/
- https://www.sistaafya.com/support-us (Sista Afya)
- Their mission is to “sustain the mental wellness of Black women through building community, sharing information, and connecting Black women to quality mental wellness services.” – https://www.sistaafya.com/
- https://blackmentalhealth.com/about-us/ (Black Mental Health Alliance) (Just click donate button)
- Mission: “To develop, promote and sponsor trusted culturally-relevant educational forums, trainings, and referral services that support the health and well-being of black people and other vulnerable communities.”
- https://www.stevefund.org/donate/ (The Steve Fund)
- “The Steve Fund works with colleges and universities, non-profits, researchers, mental health experts, families, and young people to promote programs and strategies that build understanding and assistance for the mental and emotional health of the nation’s young people of color.” – https://www.stevefund.org/About/
- https://sadgirlsclub.org/shop (Sad Girls Club) – No place to donate but can buy their merchandise
- “We are both an online platform and in real life community created to bring girls together who are battling mental illnesses.” – https://sadgirlsclub.org/mission-2
- https://www.melaninandmentalhealth.com/shop/ (Melanin & Mental Health) – no place to donate but can buy their merchandise
- “Melanin & Mental Health was born out of a desire to connect individuals with culturally competent clinicians committed to serving the mental health needs of Black & Latinx/Hispanic communities. We are committed to promoting the growth and healing of our communities through our website, online directory, and monthly events.” https://www.melaninandmentalhealth.com/about-us/
- https://www.melaninandmentalhealth.com/category/between-sessions/ – PODCAST
- https://www.artsbusinesscollaborative.org/asp-products/the-okra-project-sponsored-project/ (The Okra Project)
- “The Okra Project is a collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources to Black Trans People wherever we can reach them.” AND producing “community efforts, providing resources, and creating affinity spaces that will encourage folks in our community to feed not just their bellies but also their souls.” – https://www.theokraproject.com/
- https://www.bravespacealliance.org/donate (Brave Space Alliance)
- “Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent, for-us by-us resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ individuals on the South and West sides of the city. We strive to empower, embolden, and educate each other through mutual aid, knowledge-sharing, and the creation of community-sourced resources as we build toward the liberation of all oppressed peoples.” – https://www.bravespacealliance.org/about
- https://restforresistance.com/donate (Rest for Resistance/QTPoC Mental Health) Can also buy their apparel or zine!
- “Rest for Resistance strives to uplift marginalized communities, those who rarely get access to adequate health care or social support. This includes Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Pacific Islander, Asian, Middle Eastern, and multiracial persons. We also seek to creating healing space for LGBTQIA+ individuals, namely trans and queer people of color, as well as other stigmatized groups such as sex workers, immigrants, persons with physical and/or mental disabilities, and those living at the intersections of all the above.” https://restforresistance.com/about Note: this is their online publication, which you can read/submit to as well as support financially
- “QTPoC Mental Health provides: private online space for trans and queer people of color to get peer support, Facebook and Twitter mental health resources, affirmations on Instagram, QTPoC Meditation group (monthly in NYC and Portland), paid opportunities for queer and trans people of color to publish their art and writing on Rest for Resistance.”
- https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/the-aakoma-project (AAKOMA Project)
- “The AAKOMA Project is designed to met the needs of African American and other youth of color who struggle with depression, mental illness, mental health concerns and worries about their psychological well-being.” – https://aakomaproject.org/
- https://www.eustressinc.org/donate-1 (Eustress)
- Mission: “To raise awareness on the importance of mental health in underserved communities allowing individuals to identify and overcome challenges to achieve a healthier and productive lifestyle.” – https://www.eustressinc.org/
- https://www.transfolxfightingeds.com/support (Trans Folx Fighting EDs)
- Donate specifically to their Trans/Intersex BIPOC Health Fund: paypal.me/tffed and indicate “health fund” in the note so it goes to this fund directly
- TFFED offers various resources, support groups, and has a list of approved providers. They goal is to advocate for “more accessible, affordable and culturally competent ED treatment.” https://www.transfolxfightingeds.com/about
- https://www.depressedwhileblack.com/ (Depressed While Black) Can support by buying their merch
- “Imadé (ee-MAH-day) is a writer and mental health advocate who founded Depressed While Black. She is a suicide attempt survivor who lives with clinical depression and borderline personality disorder. Imadé first developed Depressed While Black as her 2015 Columbia University Non-Fiction Creative Writing MFA thesis. Depressed While Black has grown into an online community, an in-progress book, and a charitable initiative providing Black-affirming personal care items to mental hospital patients.”
- https://ifundwomen.com/projects/black-girls-breathingtm (black girls breathing)
- “black girls breathing™ creates a safe space for black womxn to actively nurture their mental, emotional and spiritual health via meditational breathwork in an environment curated just for us. deepening our inhales, lessening our stress and taking up more space in the world.” https://www.blackgirlsbreathing.com/
- https://www.blackgirlinom.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5e876fa8f9e11319fb91a78e (Black Girl in Om)
- Podcast, website, and offers meditations https://www.blackgirlinom.com/
To learn more:
- Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health Care: Evidence and Policy Implications (lengthy and slightly dense, you can focus on the section “Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health Care”
- 5 Black Mental Health Resources to Fight the Harmful Effects of Racism (mentioned some of the organizations listed above and more!)
- STOP WEAPONIZING MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUR ANTI-BLACKNESS
- “Notes for Mentally Ill White Folks” (Resource for white people who struggle with mental illness from Project Lets)
- PROJECT LETS RESOURCE Race and Mental Health (resources regarding race and mental illness also from Project LETS)
- African American Mental Health (from National Alliance on Mental Illness)
- https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#resources
- This link has two sections “Black Mental Health Resources” and “BIPOC Mental Health Resources” which you can look at. Some of the organizations listed above I found from this list!
- PEOPLE OF COLOR AND EATING DISORDERS
- Mental Health Treatment Is A Privilege Many People Can’t Afford
- An Open Letter to Black Women About Mental Health (TW: suicide and self harm)
- Are You White? You Have a Better Chance of Being Properly Treated For Bipolar Disorder
- BLACK FEMINIST WRITINGS GAVE ME LIFE AND LOVE AFTER DEATH’S TOUCH (TW: suicide)
- The Real Reasons Why My Disordered Eating Went Unnoticed by Almost Everyone
- WHITE FRAGILITY AND THE MASK OF MENTAL HEALTH
- People of Color Deal With Mental Illness, Too
- The author of this article, Dior Vargas, also has a photo project: http://diorvargas.com/poc-mental-illness
- How Therapy Became A Hobby Of The Wealthy, Out Of Reach For Those In Need
- Note: Pay special attention to this article if you are someone who goes to therapy for solely “self-exploration” or for family/marriage services, etc. This is not to shame you, but it is important to consider your relationship to therapy as well as the privileges you have to allow you to have access to this type of therapy. I have some of these privileges too!
- Police Brutality and Incarceration: Race and Mental Illness (I compiled this resource and the sources are at the bottom!)
- Rest as Reparations If there is a way to heal from trauma, where does one start?
- THE BODY POSITIVITY MOVEMENT BOTH TAKES FROM AND ERASES FAT BLACK WOMEN
- NOT ALL FAT BLACK BOYS KNOW HOW TO EAT
- I AM WHAT THEY FEAR: HEALING FROM EATING DISORDERS WHILE FAT
- Amid COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter, providers push for equity in treating eating disorders
- ‘Cards Against Humanity’ Writer Says He Was Forced Into a Psych Ward After Speaking Up About Racism
My Fast 