Race and Culture Mental Health Resources

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a leading advocacy and education grassroots organization serving people affected by mental illnesses and their loved ones. Each of the following links includes a discussion of identity and cultural dimensions of mental health along with guidance for accessing culturally appropriate support and a list of curated links to resources:

• Black/African American
• Latinx/Hispanic:
        -  Your Journey: Identity and Cultural Dimensions
        -  La salud mental en la comunidad latina

Mental Health America (MHA) is a leading grassroots mental health education and advocacy organization. Statistical data, identity and cultural dimensions of mental health, access/insurance issues, and a collection of curated links to community-specific resources have been developed for each of the following identity groupings:

• BIPOC Mental Health In July 2020, MHA committed to “using a racial equity and intersectional lens to highlight, better understand and effectively respond to the range of experiences.” A new BIPOC infographic, health-care disparity data and policy issues relevant to special populations can be accessed at the above link. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, People of Color and it is meant to unite people of color while acknowledging that not all people of color face the same levels of injustice or trauma. 
• Black and African American Communities
• Native and Indigenous Communities
• Latinx/Hispanic Communities: Information y materiales de salud mental en español
• Asian American/Pacific Islander Communities

• Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom: Produced by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, this resource is designed for educators but is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to better understand racial trauma. The downloadable guide defines racial trauma and its effects at different ages and stages of development with ways to address it and also includes a list of supplemental resources. (10 pps.)
• Comas-Díaz, L.; Hall, G. N.; and Neville, H. A. (2019). Racial Trauma: Theory, Research, and Healing: Introduction to the Special Issue. American Psychologist, 74(1), 1-5. Written by and for mental health professionals but a valuable introduction for anyone interested in an overview of this field, this resource has a useful bibliography with active links.
• My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies (book). Resmaa Menakem, therapist and trauma specialist, takes the reader through practices for healing racialized trauma carried in the bodies of black and other people of color, white people, and police. He contends that systemic racism is highly toxic and harms (in different degrees/ways) every body in the system. This embodied trauma needs to be acknowledged and healed in order to dismantle systemic racism. Introduction to his theory: Interview with Resmaa Menakem hosted by Krista Tippett (51-minute episode of “On Being”).
• Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing (book). Dr. Joy DeGruy, a researcher, educator and social work practitioner, addresses the residual impacts of slavery and the healing of racial trauma in her book. Online resources, including workshops and training opportunities, are at https://www.joydegruy.com/resources.
• Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They’re Okay — Chances Are They’re Not by Danielle Cadet (article)
• Racial Injustice and Trauma: African Americans in the US: NCTSN Position Statement
• Family-Care, Community-Care and Self-Care Tool Kit: Healing in the Face of Cultural Trauma Produced by the Community Healing Network in collaboration with the Association of Black Psychologists by and for people of African ancestry.
• PC(USA) Racial Justice Resources Excellent collection of resources to equip and support individuals and congregations in the work of dismantling structural racism.