Black History Month: A Reflection on Mental Health, Resilience, and Healing

February is Black History Month! This is a time to honor the achievements, cultural heritage, and ongoing struggles of Black and African American communities. It’s also a time to reflect on mental health, which is an essential aspect of the human experience that is often overlooked, misunderstood, and stigmatized within Black communities. 

At Being Human Group, we believe healing happens when people feel seen, respected, and safe. Honoring Black history means honoring Black mental health while also committing to equity, compassion, and culturally responsive care! 

Mental Health in Context 

Mental health impacts how we think, feel, and connect. It influences how we cope with stress, form relationships, and move through daily life. When our mental health is supported, we flourish. When it’s neglected, our well-being suffers. 

There are vast disparities in how mental health is experienced and treated across various communities. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black and African American adults are less likely than white adults to receive mental health treatment, even when experiencing similar levels of distress. The American Psychiatric Association further notes that Black Americans are less likely to receive care consistent with treatment guidelines and are more likely to receive services in emergency or primary care settings rather than from mental health specialists. 

These disparities reflect inequities in access, representation, and trust within healthcare systems. At Being Human Group, we recognize mental health as holistic health. Emotional wellness is not separate from physical, relational, or cultural well-being: it is interconnected! 

The Impact of Racism and Inequity 

Mental health cannot be separated from the social context in which people live. For many Black individuals, discrimination, systemic barriers, and chronic exposure to inequity directly impacts emotional well-being. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) highlights how historical trauma and ongoing racial discrimination contribute to increased stress, anxiety, and depression in Black communities. Social determinants of health such as poverty, housing instability, education inequities, and employment discrimination further shape mental and behavioral health outcomes. 

Being treated as “less than,” navigating microaggressions, and facing systemic injustice is not simply frustrating. It can be psychologically exhausting and traumatic! At Being Human Group, we are committed to trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practice. We understand that healing requires acknowledging the systems that impact mental health, not just focusing on symptoms. 

Breaking Down Barriers

Despite clear need, only about one in three Black adults with a mental health condition receives treatment. Barriers to mental health care in Black communities include: 

• Socioeconomic Challenges: Disparities in income, insurance coverage, and access to resources make it harder for many Black individuals to engage with professional mental health services. 
• Stigma: Negative beliefs about mental illness, including the perception that seeking help is a sign of weakness, can discourage individuals from reaching out. 
• Provider Bias and Underrepresentation: The American Psychiatric Association notes that Black Americans are underrepresented in research and less likely to receive evidence-based care. Historical and ongoing bias within healthcare systems can lead to mistrust and misdiagnosis. 

At Being Human Group, we prioritize culturally responsive care, humility, and continuous learning. We believe therapy should be collaborative, empowering, and rooted in respect for lived experience. Everyone deserves care that feels safe and affirming! 

Celebrating Strength, Encouraging Healing 

Black History Month is a time to celebrate the resilience of Black communities. This includes their creativity, strength, cultural pride, activism, faith traditions, and unwavering spirit. The NAMI recognizes strong family systems, community networks, and spiritual traditions as important sources of support and resilience within Black communities. At the same time, seeking therapy, taking medication, or engaging in mental health services is not a betrayal of strength. It is an act of courage, self-preservation, and advocacy for future generations! 

Moving Forward Together 

This Black History Month, let’s: 

•  Recognize mental health as part of holistic health, not something separate. 
•  Support culturally competent, trauma-informed care that honors individual and community experiences. 
•  Encourage open dialogue, education, and empathy in our own circles and professional spaces. 
•  Advocate for equitable access to mental health resources for all. 

About Our Michigan Therapists

The expertly trained and compassionate therapists at Being Human Group are licensed mental health professionals offering affirming, trauma-informed care to clients across Michigan through in-person sessions in Plymouth and Grosse Ile and convenient online therapy statewide. Our team brings advanced training and lived awareness in areas like trauma recovery, anxiety, depression, LGBTQIA+ mental health, relationship concerns, and life transitions, all grounded in a Health at Every Size and anti-oppressive, queer-affirming lens.  ​

When you reach out for a consultation about therapy, you are matched with a therapist whose background, specialties, and style align with your goals so you can access both practical tools for right now and deeper healing for long-term change. When you're ready, reach out and take the next step toward a more grounded, authentic life.

Sources 

• American Psychiatric Association. (2017). Mental Health Facts for African Americans. https://www.psychiatry.org/getmedia/bc6ae47f-b0aa-4418-b045-952ede06757f/Mental-Health-F acts-for-African-Americans.pdf 
• National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Black/African American Mental Health. https://www.nami.org/community-and-culture/black-african-american/
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Minority Health. (n.d.). Mental and Behavioral Health – Black/African Americans. 
• https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/mental-and-behavioral-health-blackafrican-americans