Black History Month 2023

February 2023 marks the observance of Black History Month, an annual celebration of the achievements, contributions, and history (past and present) of Black Americans.

The COVID-19 era, in conjunction with the fight for social justice reform across the United States, has made celebrating the strength and resilience of the Black community even more important. Socioeconomic factors including poverty, mass incarceration, and the United States’ history of discrimination and racism, continue to result in a lack of adequate mental health care in populations needing these vital services. Our Network remains committed to addressing these needs and improving mental health services for Black communities. 

Across our Network, Centers are celebrating this month by hosting several events and sharing resources for mental health professionals, the community, and allies. 

Upcoming Events from MHTTC Network

Feb 1: So You Want To Be An Ally (recording coming soon!)

Feb 14: Rites & Rituals: Bringing a Cultural Lens to Positive Youth Development for Black Girls

Feb 22: Peer Support Series, Session 2: Setting the Stage for Creating Safe Spaces

Feb 23: Management of Psychotic Disorders in the Black Community

Feb 7-28: Learning Community: Examining Bias and Ideologies to Improve Care (registration now closed)

Resources from the MHTTC Network 

• Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder Treatment in the Black Community
• Cultural and Linguistic Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards in Behavioral Health Settings: African American
• Cultural Inclusiveness and Equity WISE (Well-Being Information and Strategies for Educators)
• Do You See Me? Moving from Intolerance to Acceptance
• Engaging African Americans in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
• Even One is Too Many- Preventing Suicide among Black American Boys and Girls
• Liberty, Humiliation, and Identity: Race and the Suffering of America
• Podcast: Putting it Together- When Race/Racism is the Elephant in the Room
• Podcast: Putting it Together- Do You See Me? Moving from Intolerance to Acceptance
• Post-traumatic Stress in the African American Community
• Practice Brief: Cultural Considerations in Applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups with Serious Mental Illness
• Racial Equity and Cultural Diversity Webpage
• Racial Equity Resource Packet
• Saving Young Black Lives: Reversing Suicide Trends Podcast
• Schizophrenia Diagnosis and Treatment in the Black Community
• Social Justice and COVID-19
• Supporting the Resilience of Young LGBTQA+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color: A Let’s Talk About Resilience Conversation
• Treating Grief and Loss in Black Children and Youth
• Use and Misuse of Psychological Testing in the Evaluation of Black Patients
• When Race/Racism is the Elephant in the Room: How to Bring Up Race in Therapeutic Conversations and Not Come Undone

Other Resources and Information

• 16 Queer Black Pioneers Who Made History- NBC
• APA's Apology to Black, Indigenous and People of Color for Its Support of Structural Racism in Psychiatry- APA
• Association of Black Psychologists- ABPsi
• Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective- BEAM
• Black and African American Communities and Mental Health- MHA 
• Black and LGBTQ: Approaching Intersectional Conversations- The Trevor Project
• Black Mental Health Alliance- BMHA
• Black Pioneers In Mental Health- MHA
• Finding a Culturally Competent Provider- NAMI
• National Association of Black Counselors- NABC
• National Association of Black Social Workers- NABSW
• Sharing Hope: An African American Guide to Mental Health- NAMI