Black History Month is a time to learn and reflect. And this year’s theme, Black Health and Wellness, has been particularly impactful for me and has increased my desire to learn more about the often overlooked contributions that Black scholars and practitioners have made to the fields of physical and behavioral health. This theme has also caused me to stop and reflect on how systemic racism continues to persist in our physical and behavioral health systems.
We often hear that strong and resilient people have the capacity to bend but not break in the face of adversity or trauma. And it is true that some people bring a deep reservoir of strength to whatever crisis they may face, emerging from it seemingly unscathed.
For many of us, the holiday season conjures up a warm and cozy mental picture of watching movies by the fireplace, drinking warm beverages on a snowy afternoon and joyous family gatherings. But for many, reality doesn’t live up to these expectations.
Each year around this time, we start to hear more about gratitude. After all, Thanksgiving is a time for being thankful. But having an “attitude of gratitude” shouldn’t be limited to just the month of November. Practicing gratitude is something we can do every day. It serves as a reminder that even on difficult days, we still have reasons to be grateful for what we do have. And when we make time in our day to consciously practice gratitude and count our blessings, we can improve our mental health.
For the past year and a half, life has been anything but normal. The stress and uncertainty that comes with living through a pandemic has taken its toll. For those already living with a mental illness, the pandemic has exacerbated certain symptoms. For others, they are coping with mental health challenges for the first time. Now, it is up to us to make sure anyone who needs mental health resources and support has access.
Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. But safe and affordable housing is out of reach for too many people in Wyandotte County. Without a home, it is nearly impossible for someone to focus on caring for other needs, including their health, employment and important relationships.
This summer was supposed to mark our return to some sort of normalcy. COVID-19 vaccines were widely available and certain pandemic restrictions were easing. It was the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. But now, just when we thought we had found our footing once again, the rug has been pulled out from under us.
July is Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month. It was formally recognized in 2008 as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. It is meant to bring awareness to the challenges that BIPOC individuals face in regard to mental illness.
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to witness Governor Laura Kelly sign HB 2208, a historic piece of legislation establishing Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in the state of Kansas. This is a big moment.
May is Mental Health Month. After all of the challenges of the past year, I hope 2021 will be the year when we truly start normalizing mental health and breaking the stigma surrounding it.
Wyandotte County is a wonderfully diverse community. In order to be able to serve such a diverse community, we have to be aware of the people, places and events that shaped our community and work to understand how this history affects our community today – the triumphs and the traumas.
The country is in mourning – again. This time over the murders of eight people in Atlanta and the murders of ten in Boulder. For those in the Asian community, the murders in Atlanta just brought to national attention what you likely already knew.
