Seeds of Serenity | The Kharis Company
BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month | July

You Are Allowed to Not Be Okay

July is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, named in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, author and advocate who made mental health in communities of color her life's work.

20%
more likely for BIPOC individuals to experience serious mental health challenges
1 in 3
Black adults with a mental illness who received treatment
50%
less likely for Black adults to receive mental health treatment vs white adults
2x
higher rate of PTSD in Black Americans vs white Americans
What We're Holding
Stigma Systemic Racism Misdiagnosis Cultural Distrust Financial Barriers Spiritual Bypassing Intergenerational Trauma Provider Bias Lack of Representation Code Switching Hypervigilance Racial Battle Fatigue Access Gaps Dismissal Survivorship Burnout Invisibility Grief Community
Why Seeds of Serenity Exists

I did not grow up in a house where mental health was a regular conversation.

In the communities I was raised in, you pushed through. You prayed through. You figured it out. And I am not saying that framework was wrong. Faith has carried me through things that no therapist could reach. But I have also learned that faith and therapy are not enemies. One is not a substitute for the other.

You can believe deeply and still need support. You can come as you are to God and come as you are to a counselor. Both can be true at the same time.

July is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month because the barriers our communities face are not imaginary. They are real, documented, and systemic. Provider bias. Financial access. Cultural distrust built over generations of medical mistreatment. The belief that asking for help is weakness. These are not personality flaws. They are the residue of a system that was not built to care for us the way it cares for others.

This is why Seeds of Serenity exists. Not to replace professional care, but to hold the space between. To say that peace is possible, faith is personal, and you are allowed to not be okay while you find your way to okay.

Peace is not the absence of pain. It is the decision to pursue wholeness even when wholeness feels far away.

What is BIPOC Mental Health Month?

Named for Bebe Moore Campbell, July is dedicated to raising awareness about the unique mental health challenges facing Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Established by Mental Health America, it acknowledges that mental health care is not equitably distributed.

Why does this month exist?

BIPOC communities face higher rates of mental health challenges and significantly lower rates of treatment. Cultural stigma, provider bias, lack of culturally competent therapists, and financial barriers all contribute to a treatment gap that has life-altering consequences.

What is racial battle fatigue?

The physical and mental strain BIPOC individuals experience from repeated exposure to racism, discrimination, and microaggressions. It manifests as anxiety, anger, exhaustion, and physical symptoms. It is real, documented, and often invisible to those who do not experience it.

What does culturally competent care mean?

Finding a therapist or provider who understands your cultural context, your community's history, and your lived experience. It is not enough for a provider to be well-intentioned. Cultural competence requires active education and ongoing practice.

Resources & Support

For Black Women

Therapy for Black Girls

therapyforblackgirls.com

A directory and community making mental health resources accessible for Black women and girls. Find a therapist who understands your experience.

BIPOC-Led

Black Mental Health Alliance

blackmentalhealth.com

Develops culturally relevant educational programs and mental health training. Connects people to Black mental health professionals nationwide.

National Helpline

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

nami.org

Education, advocacy, and support for anyone facing mental illness. Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI. Offers multilingual resources and BIPOC-specific programming.

LGBTQ+ & BIPOC

Inclusive Therapists

inclusivetherapists.com

A social justice-oriented therapist directory that helps marginalized communities find providers who center their identity and lived experience.

You deserve care that actually sees you.

Finding the right support is not a luxury. It is something you are allowed to pursue, and to keep pursuing until you find what works.

  • Ask potential therapists directly about their experience working with BIPOC clients
  • Look for therapists who identify as BIPOC if that matters to you
  • Use the directories above to filter by specialty and cultural background
  • Know that it is okay to leave a provider who does not feel right
  • Start with one session. You do not have to commit before you know if it fits.
  • Check your employer's EAP (Employee Assistance Program). Many include free sessions.
  • Faith and mental health support are not mutually exclusive. You can pursue both.
  • Share this page with someone in your circle who might need to see it

This content is for awareness and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. If you are in crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.