Stay Up: Therapy for Black Girls
July is Minority Mental Health Month, founded by Mental Health America, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the mental health of Americans. Mental Health America chose identity as the theme of this year-- the focus is on the intersections of our identities and the impact that has on our mental health.
We all love a good podcast. Protest found a few created by women of color that concentrate on mental health and wellness for marginalized people. We’ll share some of our faves throughout the rest of July 2019. Today, we bring you Therapy for Black Girls created by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford.
You may have heard of 'Therapy for Black Girls,' it has steadily gained popularity since it was established in 2014 by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford. It started as a therapist directory which linked Black women and girls to mental health professionals in their area. Those who seek a therapist through the directory will find a list of primarily Black women, and some people of color, who can relate to them on a cultural level. You'll also find various articles on mental health and an affirmative podcast within the TBG toolkit of mental wellness resources.
Episode Session 108: Finding Your People is great for those of us who believe our feelings of loneliness are unique and taboo. A bunch of studies say the public is suffering from an epidemic of loneliness, and it hits Millennials and Gen Zers the hardest. This episode is short but sweet and practical-- listen to it whenever that reoccurring fear of perpetual loneliness creeps in. Dr. Joy lists a few ways to find your tribe and reminds listeners that cultivating new relationships can be awkward at first. It's natural to feel vulnerable when initiating conversations and asking strangers out on friend-dates. But! The initial discomfort only lasts for a little while, the new relationship you build will gift you with lasting impressions.
Importance of Healthy Support
On the topic of support and friendship, Dr. Joy also wrote an article on the impact strong support systems have on our mental health. Our support system often consists of family and our inner friend circle, if we’re lucky, those relationships actually support us when we need it. That’s sadly not always the case those, plenty of us have dealt with dysfunctional relationships solely for the sake of making it last.
Find more of Therapy for Black Girls’ resources here.