By Theo Smith, Associate, 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 these health observances and helps spread awareness. Here’s how you can help get involved this month.  

Minority Mental Health Month 

July is 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 Strength in Communities, where MHA will highlight alternative mental health resources created by BIPOC and queer and trans BIPOC (QTBIPOC), for BIPOC and QTBIPOC. This campaign works to develop community-developed systems of support created to fill in gaps within traditional systems that may overlook cultural and historical factors that impede BIPOC and QTBIPOC mental health. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is also highlighting Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. NAMI recognizes Bebe Moore Campbell as a mental health advocate who worked to shed light on the mental health needs of underrepresented communities. 

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. 

Ways to get involved: 

• Visit MHA’s BIPOC Mental Health Hub to stay up to date about this year’s campaign.  
• Spread awareness about Minority Mental Health Month by sharing these images and graphics.  
• Read firsthand accounts about how mental health affects minority populations. 
• Learn more about how AFSP is supporting diverse communities this month.  
• View NAMI’s ongoing docuseries, Strength Over Silence Video Series: Stories Of Courage, Culture And Community, to learn more. 
• Find out more about The Trevor Project by reading their recent report, All Black Lives Matter: Mental Health of Black LGBTQ Youth.  

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 on July 22.  
• Join a Virtual Live YES! Connect Group to find peer-to-peer support.   
• Sign up for The Arthritis Foundation’s Walk to Cure Arthritis. 
• 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 10, join Chronic Disease Day organizers for a webinar, Addressing Health Disparities and Promoting Health Equity, with keynote speaker Dr. Nathan Stinson Jr., Division of Scientific Programs, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. 

Ways to get involved:  

• Learn more about Chronic Disease Day here.  
• Show your support by sharing these messages on social media on July 10.  
• Get your hometown to support and recognize Chronic Disease Day by filling out this form.