Help Raise Awareness for These Causes in July
By Jennifer Schleman, VP, Marketing Communications
Awareness months allow the opportunity to educate, promote, advocate, and raise funds for different causes. It’s important that the patient community is aware of these health observances and help spread awareness. Here’s how you can help get involved this month.
Minority Mental Health Month
July is BIPOC/Minority Mental Health Month. Minority populations experience inequities in access to mental health resources. These disparities create greater risk and can make access to mental health care more difficult.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is dedicated to addressing the mental health and suicide prevention needs among minority populations. During Minority Mental Health Month, AFSP is committed to understanding and supporting the long-term, sustained efforts needed to improve access to culturally informed, evidence-based quality mental health care.
Mental Health America (MHA) developed a public education campaign dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). This year’s theme is Beyond the Numbers, where MHA celebrates Bebe Moore Campbell, an American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who worked tirelessly to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black community and other underrepresented communities. MHA recognizes that Black, Indigenous, and people of color have rich histories that go #BeyondTheNumbers. Download a toolkit here.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is also highlighting Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. NAMI recognizes that while mental health conditions can affect anyone regardless of background, culture or identity, the experience of racial trauma and ongoing discrimination can cause and significantly worsen symptoms. Read more here.
According to The Trevor Project, both LGBTQ youth and Black youth report higher rates of poor mental health due to chronic stress stemming from the marginalized social status they have in U.S. society. The Trevor Project works to confront systemic barriers to Black LGBTQ mental health and well-being. Minority Mental Health Month shines a light on how this organization works to support youth well-being by acknowledging that mental health is not “one-size-fits-all” and must fit the needs of each individual. Download The Trevor Project’s guide: Supporting Black LGBTQ Youth Mental Health.
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
Juvenile arthritis (JA), also known as pediatric rheumatic disease, is an umbrella term to describe the inflammatory and rheumatic diseases that develop in children under the age of 16. These conditions affect nearly 300,000 children in the U.S. every year. The Arthritis Foundation is working to find a cure for arthritis, the #1 cause of disability in the U.S., while supporting those with arthritis, funding life-changing science, offering free online resources, and community connections.
Ways to get involved:
- Register for The Arthritis Foundation’s upcoming Juvenile Arthritis National Conference July 14-17.
- Join a Virtual Live YES! Connect Group to find peer-to-peer support.
- Find more JA resources for patients and families, here.
Chronic Disease Day (July 10)
More than 160 million people have chronic diseases and disabilities in the U.S., so Chronic Disease Day is an important opportunity to advocate for people with chronic conditions. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated existing health inequities in the U.S. health care system. On July 19, join Chronic Disease Day organizers for a webinar, Chronic Disease Day Signature Livestream, featuring policymakers, experts, and community advocates discussing issues impacting the chronic disease community post COVID-19.
