Everyday BIPOC Mental Health Advocacy

July is BIPOC Mental Health Month, and the role of community-based advocacy has never been more in-demand as an alternative to systemic misrepresentation. Following the organized efforts of 2020’s Black Lives Matter [BLM] demonstrations across the United States of America in response to the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor [along with countless additional victims of police violence] the push to expand civil liberties to underrepresented communities should more accessible than ever. Why is it then, that finding avenues to support BIPOC mental health daily seems to have receded to the backdrop of mainstream conversation? 

It feels like a lot of time has passed since every company in existence was scrambling to run advertisements proving their status as allies to the cause. Gone are the days of hash-tagging BLM on Instagram posts, and the once-virtuous lawn posts have aged with the deposits of inaction. The momentary age of direct advocacy draws dangerously near to a close as recession looms and the free time afforded by shelter-in-place has all but dried up. For many individuals who marched in the streets two years ago, taking up the eternal call for advocacy on behalf of mental health equality is more complicated than grabbing a sign to hold and joining the wave of foot-traffic headed to the downtown demonstration. 

Luckily, ‘complicated’ does not mean impossible. If the last few years of advocacy have shown anything, it’s that when everyday people unite behind a common cause, their capacity to influence public opinion grows in popularity. The modern landscape of mental advocacy is like a group of bees getting stuck in a trap—here the systems of social stigma, capitalism, and misrepresentation acting as the trap. If only these intrepid pollinators could find a single way out, the surrounding environment could immediately benefit from their ability to help life flourish. 

And so, this list aims to outline those paths that mental health advocates might explore daily to bolster BIPOC mental health in the face of oppressive systems of injustice. Remember: the better you feel about your own mental health, the better you will be able to advocate for the mental health of others!

Expanding the Scope of Mental Health Resources

Oftentimes, the mental health practices of one individual’s wellness routine do not have the same impact when applied to another person’s methods of self-care. While this may be obvious to some, it is a necessary realization in order to empathize with the systems of support that may not fit in with the practices one person may consider ‘normal’. Strengthening community-based recovery means normalizing the practices that appear abnormal to some mental health peers. For instance, religion may be a foundational aspect of community-based mental health recovery for many peers; however, the opposite may be true for another community, as religion might even be a trigger for mental health symptoms. Nonetheless, both perspectives can be united by their commitment to mental health advocacy. Finding a way to accept these differences under the umbrella of recovery is crucial to progressing the scope of mental health advocacy. By recognizing the benefit of healing resources—even though they may not resemble the exact solution that is familiar to your lived experience—peers can advocate for the recovery of those outside their direct community by recommending services outside their comfort zone. Doing so can bolster partner communities and establish mutual connections with like-minded support groups, despite what differences may traditionally interfere with collaboration. 

Seek Out Culturally Responsive Sources of Education

Culturally responsive teaching functions with the belief that students who are taught in an environment built to identify and nurture the strengths unique to one’s cultural identity will experience far greater educational strides, given the removal of structural barriers which may impede how a student learns. Long story short: educators meet the students where they are coming from, rather than expecting students to already be at a level of communication tailored to the teacher.Educators can do this by learning more about their students early on, identifying their strengths, and reaching out to guest speakers who may reframe their lessons in a more understandable package. The MHASF Training Institute offers a training about Self-Care & Community Care to focus on decentralized systems of care centered around personal support. This is an example of education that operates with the recognition that learning is relational instead of hierarchical.

Advocate for BIPOC Leadership and Support Within Your Spaces

Whether it is at work, at school, at home, or at the grocery store, there are opportunities in life to make a choice, and the choice is usually: say something, or stay silent. Unfortunately, the history of oppression in this country makes that choice for people most of the time, meaning that racial privilege can all too often create an imbalance for those making this decision. The color of someone’s skin inevitably raises the stakes of a decision to speak up because the consequences of speaking up for a white person are usually a lot different than for a member of the BIPOC community. If mental health advocates want to make mental health accessible to all, it starts by making civil rights equitable for all. Advocates looking to get involved can do so by supporting BIPOC leadership. This might be as simple as having a conversation with someone who seems to be having a tough day, or it can be as significant as demanding representative leadership within everyday spaces. Mental health advocacy should reflect the needs of those requiring the most support first and foremost. Not every step towards accessible mental health care for all will take place during a march or a rally, but in order go the distance peers should aim to take a step daily. Some days, the most important step is a step inward towards self-care.