Dear Friends,
Despite the strength and resilience of our diverse communities, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) have historically and disproportionately faced discrimination, systemic inequalities, and injustices. This can all have a profound impact on mental health and access to care – communities of color are significantly less likely to receive mental health services.
With this in mind, it’s important we talk about all of this in our communities and take action. Together, we can raise awareness about the unique mental health care challenges BIPOC communities experience while we continue our work to lift the stigma, break down barriers to care, and connect people to culturally inclusive resources.
My office is committed to reducing disparities and increasing equitable access to mental healthcare in all our communities, especially those that have experienced discrimination, trauma, and displacement.
As we recover from Hurricane Beryl's devastation, I also want to remind people that disasters can cause significant stress—this is a common and understandable response. Learn more about the impact of disasters on mental health and what to look out for, here.
We’ve also pulled together information about local mental health resources and services for BIPOC communities:
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call the Harris Center’s 24-hour Crisis Line by selecting Option 1 after dialing the main number, 713-970-7000. If you're outside Harris County, you can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Working together, we can overcome the challenges we face and ensure equitable access to mental healthcare for all.
Rodney Ellis