BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month: Why Representation Matters in Mental Health Care

Each July, we recognize BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, also known as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. The month honors author, educator, and mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell, whose work helped bring national attention to the mental health needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

The month encourages conversations about mental health, increases awareness of the barriers many communities continue to face, and reminds us that everyone deserves access to compassionate, high-quality mental health care.

Whether you're considering therapy for the first time, returning after a break, or looking for a different experience than you've had in the past, this month is an opportunity to reflect on what support could look like for you.

Why representation matters

Representation can help people feel understood, respected, and comfortable bringing their whole selves into therapy.

The way we grow up shapes how we think about emotions, relationships, and asking for help. Maybe you learned to stay strong for your family. Maybe emotions weren't talked about very often. Maybe you became the person everyone else leaned on. Those experiences can stay with us long into adulthood.

Culture can influence the way we experience stress, process difficult life events, and communicate our needs. It also shapes our values, our relationships, and the expectations we carry for ourselves.

Some people actively seek a therapist who shares parts of their identity. Others connect with therapists from different backgrounds whose approach reflects cultural humility, curiosity, and genuine respect for their lived experiences. Every person's preferences are different, and finding a therapist who feels like the right fit is an important part of the process.

My perspective as a therapist

As a BIPOC therapist with intersectional identities, I've experienced firsthand how culture, identity, and lived experiences can shape mental health, both in my own personal therapy and in my work with clients.

I know what it's like to search for a therapist who feels like the right fit. I also know how meaningful it can be to work with someone who approaches your story with curiosity, respect, and cultural humility.

Those experiences continue to shape the way I show up for my clients. Every person deserves a space where they feel heard, where their experiences are taken seriously, and where they don't feel pressured to explain or defend who they are.

Mental health disparities in BIPOC communities

Many people want support and still face obstacles when it comes to getting the care they deserve.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately 38.5% of Black adults living with a mental illness received treatment in 2024, compared with 57.9% of White adults.

Research also shows that Black communities are less likely to receive guideline-consistent mental health care and are more likely to receive mental health treatment through emergency departments or primary care settings instead of mental health specialists.

Several factors contribute to these disparities, including:

• Limited access to mental health providers

• Financial and insurance barriers

• Stigma surrounding mental health

• Previous negative experiences within healthcare systems

• Difficulty finding culturally responsive care

• Historical and ongoing inequities that have affected trust in healthcare

These barriers can delay treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and chronic stress. Early support is associated with better outcomes and can make it easier to build healthy coping skills before symptoms become more overwhelming.

Why awareness months are important

Awareness months create opportunities for education, conversation, and connection.

For some people, learning about mental health opens the door to seeking therapy for the first time. For others, it offers reassurance that they're ready to try again after an experience that didn't feel like the right fit.

If you've tried therapy before and left feeling like you weren't making the progress you hoped for, it doesn't automatically mean therapy wasn't right for you. Sometimes a different therapist, a different approach, or a deeper focus on the underlying causes of what you're experiencing can make a meaningful difference.

Therapy isn't one-size-fits-all. Finding an approach that fits your needs, your personality, and your goals can change the entire experience.

Finding a therapist who feels like the right fit

Whether you're looking for support with anxiety, trauma, burnout, perfectionism, relationship challenges, or a major life transition, the relationship you have with your therapist matters.

As you explore your options, you might ask yourself:

• Do I feel comfortable speaking openly with this therapist?

• Do I feel heard and respected?

• Does this therapist have experience treating the concerns I want to work on?

• Does their approach align with what I'm hoping to achieve?

Many therapists offer consultation calls, giving you an opportunity to ask questions before getting started. Trust often develops over time, and it's okay to find someone whose style feels like a good fit for you.

You don't have to wait until you're completely overwhelmed

People begin therapy for many different reasons. Some are navigating anxiety that has slowly become harder to manage. Others are working through trauma, burnout, grief, relationship challenges, or major life transitions. Some simply want a better understanding of themselves and healthier ways to respond to stress.

You don't have to wait until life feels unmanageable before reaching out. Therapy can be a place to build insight, strengthen coping skills, process difficult experiences, and create meaningful change at your own pace.

You deserve support

Finding the right therapist is important. You deserve someone who takes the time to understand your experiences, respects your values, and works collaboratively toward the goals that matter to you.

I provide virtual therapy for adults throughout New York and specialize in anxiety, trauma, burnout, perfectionism, and life transitions. My approach integrates EMDR, creative arts therapy, mindfulness, and other evidence-based therapies to help clients move beyond surface-level coping and create lasting change.

If you're curious about working together, you're welcome to schedule a free 15-minute consultation or book your first session directly through my website. You can also learn more about my approach by visiting my About, EMDR Therapy, and Art Therapy pages.

Artwork created by Attiya Awadallah

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month?

BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July to raise awareness of the mental health needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The month honors Bebe Moore Campbell and encourages education, open conversations, and improved access to mental health care.

Does having a therapist of the same race or cultural background matter?

It can for some people. Feeling understood, respected, and comfortable with your therapist is an important part of building a strong therapeutic relationship. Some people prefer a therapist who shares aspects of their identity, while others find an excellent fit with therapists from different backgrounds who practice with cultural humility and curiosity.

What if I've tried therapy before and it didn't help?

Therapy experiences vary. A different therapist, a different therapeutic approach, or a treatment such as EMDR may feel very different from what you've experienced in the past. If you've been feeling stuck, it's okay to explore another option that better fits your needs and goals.

How do I know if therapy is right for me?

You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Many people begin therapy because they want support navigating stress, anxiety, trauma, burnout, relationship concerns, or life transitions. A consultation can help you decide whether therapy feels like the right next step.

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A Personal Note

Thank you for taking the time to read this article and learn more about BIPOC mental health.

As both a BIPOC therapist and someone who has sat on the other side of the therapy room, I know how vulnerable it can feel to reach out for support. I also know how meaningful it is to find a therapist who takes the time to understand your experiences and works with you in a way that feels collaborative, respectful, and genuine.

Whether you're exploring therapy for the first time or looking for a different experience than you've had in the past, I hope this article reminded you that support is available and that your mental health deserves care and attention.

If you're looking for a therapist in New York, I'd be honored to be part of your healing. I offer virtual therapy for adults using EMDR, creative arts therapy, and other evidence-based approaches to support anxiety, trauma, burnout, life transitions, and emotional overwhelm.

You're welcome to schedule a free 15-minute consultation or book your first session whenever you feel ready.

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About the Author

Attiya Awadallah is a licensed psychotherapist and board-certified art therapist specializing in anxiety, health anxiety, and trauma. She works with adults who struggle with anxiety using evidence-based approaches including EMDR, exposure and response prevention, somatic therapy, and art therapy. Attiya provides virtual therapy for adults in New York and New Jersey through Lenora: Art Therapy and Counseling.

You can schedule a free consultation at lenoratherapy.com.

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