Telehealth therapy addresses mental health disparities affecting Black Americans by providing accessible, culturally-sensitive therapeutic support from licensed professionals, helping overcome historical barriers to mental healthcare during Black History Month and throughout the year.

Honoring Black History Month means celebrating resilience—including prioritizing your mental health. Telehealth breaks down barriers that have long prevented Black Americans from accessing compassionate care, offering a path to healing that fits your life and honors your journey.

Mental Health And Black History Month: Accessing Support Through Telehealth

Black History Month centers on Black Americans’ history and ongoing efforts in the Black community to fight for equity, fairness, and anti-racism. An important aspect of Black history and current advocacy involves mental health, as access to mental health resources for Black Americans can be challenging due to stigmas, racism, and other forms of oppression. Learning about Black History Month through a mental health lens offers an opportunity to honor this month and advocate for improved resources and support. One avenue to receive accessible and compassionate mental health care may be through telehealth services like those offered by ReachLink.

The history and significance of Black History Month

Black History Month was started in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a scholar who believed Black history was largely ignored in American society. After founding the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915, Woodson aimed to teach others about history, publishing the Journal of Negro History, which is now called the Journal of African American History.

In 1926, Black History Month was called “Negro History Week,” and it occurred in the second week of February in honor of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. This week unofficially evolved into Black History Month in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement and has been federally recognized since 1976 by every American president, including Barack Obama, the first Black president of the United States.

Today, Black History Month in February serves as a way to celebrate past and present activists, African American life, and current events. In 2023, Black History Month’s theme was “Black Resistance” to drive awareness of “continuing racism, oppression, and police killings,” as well as the too often neglected accomplishments of Black pioneers. In 2024, the theme of Black History Month is “African Americans and the Arts.”

Respectful ways to honor Black History Month

Regardless of your background, there are many ways to honor Black History Month respectfully:

Support Black-owned businesses

Supporting Black-owned businesses increases their public visibility and allows you to give back to the Black community and Americans of African descent. Consider these approaches:

• Ask questions about how you can help rather than assuming what a business needs
• Be intentional about your support efforts
• Share your support on social media to encourage others
• Continue supporting Black businesses beyond February
• Write positive reviews for Black-owned businesses in your area
• Donate to Black organizations fighting for equity and equality
• Approach your support with humility rather than centering yourself (unless you are part of the BIPOC community)
• Consider sponsoring Black-owned businesses if you have a business of your own

Engage with media from Black creators and help stop racism

Black writers, filmmakers, songwriters, artists, and other creators can face censorship on social media and through biased algorithms. By engaging with their media online, sharing it with friends, and following these creators, you help boost their visibility. For example, listen to and share music from Robert Johnson, a Black songwriter and blues musician, or share social media posts from Black artists and writers.

You can also support Black creators by purchasing their art or services. During Black History Month, museums or art galleries often showcase Black work. Consider visiting the National Museum of African American History or a local museum to learn more about African American History Month through artifacts and the perspectives of curators with African roots.

Attend local events

Both virtual and in-person events for Black History Month offer opportunities for learning and engagement. The Black History Month Virtual Festival takes place in February 2024 online, featuring programming related to the 2024 theme of African Americans and the Arts. Many cities hold festivals, including the Los Angeles Black History Month Festival and the 15th annual Black History Month Festival by Springs Preserve.

Mental health and Black History Month

An often overlooked aspect of Black History is mental health. Many Black pioneers paved the way to support the mental health of Black and BIPOC communities. Here are ways to focus on mental health during February and throughout the year.

Learn about mental health statistics for Black Americans

Mental health statistics for Black Americans often differ dramatically from other demographics. According to Mental Health America, “Historical dehumanization, oppression, and violence against Black and African American people has evolved into present-day racism—structural, institutional, and individual—and cultivates a uniquely mistrustful and less affluent community experience, characterized by a myriad of disparities, including inadequate access to and delivery of care in the health system.”

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that Black Americans, especially Black women, tend to be more likely to experience feelings of severe sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness than other populations.

With approximately 16% of all Black and African American people experiencing a mental illness in the last year, access to mental health resources is crucial. Additionally, suicide risk and substance use can be elevated in Black populations, making suicide prevention efforts essential in these communities.

Access hotlines and resources as a Black or BIPOC American

If you would prefer to speak to a BIPOC crisis counselor, you can call or text BlackLine at 1-800-604-5841 for peer support, resources, and affirmation. Their counselors are trained to support those struggling with mental health concerns, hate crimes, BLM-related concerns, police brutality, prison advocacy, and referrals. These individuals work from a Black feminine lens and prioritize BIPOC individuals seeking support.

Learn about Black mental health pioneers through education

Several pioneers in mental health have frequently been overlooked in discussions about Black History:

• Bebe Moore Campbell: An author and mental health advocate for the Black community who founded a NAMI branch in Inglewood to create a space for Black Americans to reach out for support. After her death, Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was named in her honor.
• Kitch Childs, Ph.D.: Dr. Childs founded the Association for Women in Psychology and was one of the founders of the Gay Liberation Front in Chicago. She was a therapist providing support to LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC clients from her community.
• Francis Cecil Sumner, Ph.D.: Dr. Sumner was the first Black man in the US to get a degree in psychology. He graduated from Howard University and headed their psychology department.
• Inez Beverly Prosser, Ph.D.: Dr. Prosser was the first Black woman in the US to get a Ph.D. in psychology. She wrote her dissertation on segregation and racial inequality and their impacts on self-esteem.
• Beverly Greene, Ph.D.: Dr. Greene pioneered intersectional psychology focused on the connections between LGBTQIA+ identity, racism, oppression, and mental health. She received the Distinguished Publication Award from the Association of Women in Psychology in 2008.

Studying these individuals and their impacts can be a meaningful way to honor Black History Month.

Check out mental health care resources for Black Americans

Many organizations are dedicated to bringing mental health support and resources to BIPOC Americans and Black communities:

• The OKRA Project
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund
• The Black Organization for Leadership & Dignity
• The Black Mental Health Alliance
• The Center for Black Educator Development
• The Black Trans Advocacy Coalition
• Xceleader
• Black Lives Matter

Telehealth as an accessible support option

Mental health care is just as crucial as physical healthcare. However, some people may avoid in-person therapy due to cost, fears about discrimination, or lack of access to mental health resources. In these cases, telehealth therapy through platforms like ReachLink can provide a more accessible alternative.

Benefits of telehealth therapy

With telehealth platforms like ReachLink, you can often set preferences for a therapist upon signing up. If you would feel more comfortable talking to a BIPOC therapist, you can select this option during the matching process. Additionally, you may access resources like support groups focused on topics relevant to you, such as mental health challenges specific to BIPOC individuals.

Telehealth services eliminate geographical barriers, providing greater flexibility with scheduling compared to traditional therapy. Through secure video sessions with licensed clinical social workers, you can receive personalized support for a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, stress management, trauma, grief, and relationship issues.

Effectiveness of telehealth therapy

Research demonstrates that telehealth therapy can be highly effective. Studies show that online interventions can be as effective as in-person therapy in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression and increasing the quality of life for participants. Additionally, telehealth therapy is typically more affordable and accessible for clients.

Takeaway

Black History Month highlights the importance of remembering pioneers in Black history, as well as the organizations, creators, and public figures currently fighting for justice and making history today. You can honor this month by supporting Black businesses and creators, donating, and attending events. If you are a BIPOC individual experiencing mental health challenges, you can also honor yourself this month by reaching out for support from a telehealth provider like ReachLink or an in-person therapist.