September is Suicide Awareness/Prevention Month
September is dedicated as Suicide Awareness/Prevention Month, offering a crucial opportunity to shed light on the sensitive and often overlooked issue of suicide. Suicidal thoughts are not limited to a specific age or gender and can impact people from various backgrounds. It’s important to understand that suicidal thoughts are not a normal part of life and can be indicative of underlying mental health conditions that have gone untreated. This month aims to change the public's perception of suicide and provide essential information to individuals and communities affected by it. By raising awareness and offering support, we can ensure that those in need have access to the resources and help they require. Let's work together to spread hope and prevent suicide.
Bebe Moore Campbell
Bebe Moore Campbell was a prominent American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who dedicated her life to raising awareness about the mental health needs of underrepresented communities, especially the Black community. She established NAMI-Inglewood, a safe space for Black people to discuss their mental health concerns in a predominantly Black neighborhood. Campbell's advocacy work took her to Washington DC, where on June 2, 2008, Congress officially recognized the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This recognition aimed to highlight the unique challenges that underrepresented groups face when it comes to mental illness in the United States.
E. Kitch Childs, Ph.D.
E. Kitch Childs played a significant role in the founding of the Association for Women in Psychology back in 1969. She was also a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front in Chicago. Childs not only led the way for women in psychology and the LGBTQ+ community, but she also owned her own practice where she provided therapy to marginalized individuals such as LGBTQ+ folks, people living with HIV/AIDS, and others. Her work was centered around feminist therapy, and she conducted research on the experiences of Black women and feminist theory.
Black Americans' contributions to the field of mental health have been long overlooked. Check out these trailblazers!