CURRENT RESOURCES AND ACTION ITEMS
Despite all the issues Black women and girls face with regard to mental health, luckily there are organizations and communities recognizing the crisis and joining in the fight against it. Whether it is through creating a safe space for Black women to talk, providing access to therapists who are representative of this demographic, providing different modes of sharing information about mental health to bolster mental health literacy, and more, a movement to protect the minds and futures of Black girls and women is breaking down barriers, taking action, and creating spaces for uncomfortable conversations. Below are some resources that are doing their part in fighting for the mental health of Black women and girls:
THERAPY FOR BLACK GIRLS
"Therapy for Black Girls is an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls."
"Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is a licensed psychologist, speaker, and the host of the wildly popular mental health podcast, Therapy for Black Girls. Her work focuses on making mental health topics more relevant and accessible for Black women and she delights in using pop culture to illustrate psychological concepts."
Resources:
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Access to Therapists
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Helpful podcasts
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Self-help Articles
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Blogs
THE LOVELAND FOUNDATION
"The Loveland Foundation was established in 2018 by Rachel Cargle in response to her widely successful birthday wish fundraiser, Therapy for Black Women and Girls. Her enthusiastic social media community raised over $250,000, which made it possible for Black women and girls nationally to receive therapy support. Black women and girls deserve access to healing, and that healing will impact generations."
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"The Loveland Foundation is the official continuation of this effort to bring opportunity and healing to communities of color, and especially to Black women and girls. Through fellowships, residency programs, listening tours, and more, ultimately we hope to contribute to both the empowerment and the liberation of the communities we serve."
Resources:
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Therapy fund that provides financial assistance to Black women and Girls seeking therapy
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Average 4-12 Therapy session supported.
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Access to Therapy for Black Girls, National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network, Talkspace, Open Path Collective, Black Female Therapists, and Psychology Today
SISTA AFYA COMMUNITY MENTAL WELLNESS
"Sista Afya is a social enterprise that provides low-cost mental wellness services that center the experiences of Black women. We have a community support approach to mental wellness. We believe that community support for people living with mental health conditions can foster healing, growth, freedom, and self-actualization."
"The vision is for Black women across the African Diaspora to be free from psychological and physical illness through supporting one another and engaging in accessible mental wellness care that centers the well-being of the whole person."
Resources:
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Mental Wellness Education: Mental wellness workshops, professional development, & online resources.​
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Resource Connection: Large events that bring service providers and the community together.​
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Community Support: Individual therapy, group therapy, support groups, and holistic healing events.​
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Mental Wellness Merchandise: African- American & mental wellness-themed coloring books, journals, greeting cards, apparel, and more.
BLACK GIRLS SMILE INC.
"Black Girls Smile Inc. was founded with a mission to provide young black women with education, resources, and support to lead mentally healthy lives. BGS' mission is grounded in research, focus group findings, and personal experiences highlighting the under-served and underrepresented mental health needs of young black women."
"BGS envisions a society that through the normalization and dialogue surrounding mental wellness, all individuals, including young African American females are provided education, support, and resources necessary to lead mentally healthy lives."
Resources:
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Guided Yoga
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Therapy Assitance
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Mental health literacy programs
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Workshops
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Mental Wellness Merchandise: