Black Mental Health Awareness Society Provides Support
Student Panelists for the Black Mental Health Awareness Seminar. Source: Black Mental Health Awareness Society
The Black Mental Health Awareness Society (BMHA) raises awareness about mental health in the black community, with the goal to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness. The society was recently founded by a group of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) students at Marist.
With a variety of events, panel discussions and meetings, the society hopes to give students of color a place to speak about mental health and how it affects their daily lives as college students.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black Americans are 20% more likely to experience serious mental illness compared to the general public. It was also found that 63% of Black Americans think that mental illness is a sign of weakness or personal failing.
“My goal after graduation is to open more mental health services and facilities in urban communities and work in prisons assisting those who are diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and any other mental health disorders,” President of BMHA Anaya Roman ‘23 said.
One of the society’s goals is for students to learn how to cope with the stressors of being a person of color in addition to other stressors in life. In the future, the society plans to hold a variety of programs for members such as yoga night, family feud, hidden talent night and movie night.
“I want this club to heal and be an ear for people who are going through tough times with their mental health,” said Co-President Maxwell Whyte ‘23. “I hope to make this a second home for students' thoughts and a comfortable space for people of color and their loved ones.”
Last week, the society held a black mental health awareness seminar and had guests join the panel discussion from the Trevor Project and the Center for Black Wellbeing. The Trevor Project is a nonprofit organzation that focuses on suicide prevention efforts among the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, they provide specific resources for LGBTQ+ people of color. The Center for Black Wellbeing is an organization that prioritizes black mental health through a variety of channels.
The panel also included students from Marist who answered questions about their own mental health. The student panelists included Khmari Awai ‘23, Daijia Canton ‘23, Keon Lee ‘22 and Kumba Nyang ‘23.
“There needs to be a lot more community engagement and discussion in general surrounding mental health that I think we currently lack,” Nyang said.
Preston Mitchum, a Black and queer civil rights advocate, public speaker, writer and professor represented The Trevor Project.
“Black LGBTQ+ communities are placed at a higher risk for sucide than their peers because of how they are treated,” Mitchum said. “There are three things that we often talk about at The Trevor Project. The first is to allow yourself to feel emotions without judgment, the second part is a pivot to action and then seek support if needed.”
After Mitchum spoke, Dr. Zuleka Henderson, Director for The Center for Black Wellbeing, talked to students about mental health and wellness within black communities. Their goal is to combine human connection and neuroscience to help people achieve lasting mental wellness.
“We are a mantra, we are an affirmation,” Henderson said. “We are also a response to calls from Black folks who want to pursue healing in a space with others who look like them. We don’t all pursue healing in the same way so our practitioners have diverse characteristics and skills.”
While people of color struggle nationwide with mental health, BMHA wants to be a resource of intersectionality on campus. While they hope to provide a safe space for students to come and talk, they also want to connect them to greater resources such as counseling and professional treatment. The newly founded society is committed to building trust and teaching members about the importance of their own mental wellbeing.