On June 19th, we celebrate the end of slavery in the United States. The Northwest MHTTC honors the resiliency of the African American community and commits to anti-racist action while advocating for true equity.

Some Ways to Celebrate

• Read the presidential proclamation on Juneteenth
• Read a primer on the history of Juneteenth
• Find a Black-owned business to support at BlackOwnedAssociation.com
• Attend a Juneteenth event
• Advocate for evidence-based policing
• Choose children's books and toys that feature people of color and/or honor Black history

Resources for the African American Community

• Sharing Hope: An African American Guide to Mental Health from NAMI
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and National Alliance on Mental Illness Partnership - Since 2015, these organizations have been working together to increase mental health awareness in the African American community.
• Black and LGBTQ: Approaching Intersectional Conversations, from The Trevor Project
• Finding a Culturally Competent Provider, from NAMI
• Loveland Foundation - Committed to communities of color with a particular focus on Black women and girls
• NAMI Seattle BIPOC Mental Health Resources

Resources for Providers

• African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence - Transforming behavioral health services for African Americans through collaboration, training, technical assistance, and a variety of written and recorded resources.
• Racial Equity and Cultural Diversity - Products and resources curated by the MHTTC Network
• Perspectives on Diversity and Being Marginalized from Both Sides of the Couch

MHTTC Products

• Liberty, Humiliation, and Identity: Race and the Suffering of America - Hosted by the Great Lakes MHTTC, this recorded webinar covers how to engage in a dialogue about physical and mental health that encompasses societal morbidity. Presenter Albert Thompson also examines how particular events in our history demonstrate the consequences of racial views and our need to listen and engage.
• Understanding Hope and Healing: A podcast with Dr. Shawn Ginwright - Hosted by the South Southwest MHTTC, this podcast discusses the importance of moving from a trauma-informed lens and into healing-centered engagement which is grounded in collective wisdom, hope, and community.
• Practice Brief: Cultural Considerations in Applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups with Serious Mental Illness - Developed by Jessica Maura, PhD and Sarah Kopelovich, PhD with the Northwest MHTTC, this practice brief is intended to help clinicians enhance their cultural awareness and incorporate culturally-relevant practices into their formulation and treatment approach.

We celebrate Pride Month in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising and to commemorate the positive impact the LGBTQ+ community has had on our world. 

Organizations Offering Resources for the LGBTQ+ Community

• Trans Lifeline
• National Center for Transgender Equality
• The Trevor Project
• LGBT National Hotline
• LGBT National Youth Talkline
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network
• Human Rights Campaign

Resources for Providers

• Providers can enroll in e-learning modules through the Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity to learn about practice tips, disparities and resources to improve services for LGBTQ+ people in their care.
• SAMHSA offers LGBT Training Curricula for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Practitioners for providers looking to care for the LGBTQ+ population.

Articles of Interest

• Gender Affirming Care and Young People by the Office on Population Affairs
• The State of Mental Health in the LGBTQ Community by the Human Rights Campaign
• Multifactorial Discrimination as a Fundamental Cause of Mental Health Inequities by Mariam Khan, Misja Ilcisin & Katherine Saxton
• Supporting Black LGBTQ Youth Mental Health by Josh Weaver

MHTTC Products

• Transgender Mental Health: Co-Conspiratorship - Hosted by the Northwest MHTTC, this recorded webinar provides a community-defined and evidence-based foundation for mental health providers serving queer and transgender communities. Centering anti-racism, community lived experience, and an interdisciplinary framework, this webinar explores strengths, weaknesses, and best practices of mental health care for queer and transgender communities.
• Working with Transgender Patients in Integrated Care - Hosted by the Mountain Plains MHTTC, this two-part recorded webinar series focuses on how to effectively implement trans-affirmative care for transgender and nonbinary patients.
• The Latinx LGBT+ Community: The Consequences of Intersectionality and the Use of the Affirmative Model for Latinx Populations - Hosted by the National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC, this recorded webinar discusses the Minority Stress Model, the excessive stress to which individuals of stigmatized social categories are exposed as a result of their social position, and its impact on mental health. The presenter also discusses the LGBTQ+ Affirmative Model as a recommended approach to work with Latinx LGBTQ+ communities with mental health challenges.
• Desk Guide: Building Your Toolkit to Serve the LGBTQ Community - Created by the Great Lakes MHTTC, this guide is based on material presented by Dr. Amney Harper on April 9, 2021, and outlines tools for providers to help LGBTQ+ patients navigate disparities and achieve a fulfilling, emotionally healthy life.

This campaign seeks to educate the public about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and to provide resources to those affected by PTSD.

PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, affects about 6 percent of Americans or about 12 million adults every year. Often associated with the experiences of soldiers, this condition affects many more Americans who are victims of trauma. In addition to June being PTSD awareness month, June 27th is National PTSD Awareness day.

• The National Institute of Mental Health provides an overview of PTSD symptoms, risk factors and treatments.
• SAMHSA's National Center for Trauma Informed Care offers interventions, referral resources and information on how to shift to a trauma-informed paradigm.
• Locate provides and other resources on the SAMHSA Find Treatment page.
• Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD for background information on PTSD in veterans and to find a mental health provider.
• Veterans and military families can access the confidential Veterans Crisis Line 24/7.

This month brings awareness to health care for men and boys and encourages them to implement healthy practices in their lives.

• Men's Health Network offers screening programs, educational materials, advocacy opportunities, and patient navigation for men.
• Face It Foundation provides men’s support groups, one-on-one peer support, outreach events, public education, and training for mental health professionals.
• Read SAMHSA's Quick Guide for Clinicians on Addressing the Specific Behavioral Health Needs of Men.
• Visit the National Institute of Mental Health's Men and Depression page to learn about symptoms, treatment options and additional resources for depression in men.

June 26 is International Day Against Drug Use and Illicit Trafficking 

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking aims to raise awareness about drug abuse and narcotics trafficking worldwide.

This international observance was created by the United Nations General Assembly. Each year the UN publishes the world drug report, which offers facts and figures about world drug use and illicit trafficking, and offers “evidence-based data and solutions” to combat drug use.

• The United Nations describes this day in more detail.