Bebe Moore Campbell National Mental Health Month

Photo courtesy of Vermont Health Equity

July is National Minority Mental Health Month! This month was founded by author, journalist, and mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell to address the disproportionate stigma and barriers around mental health within Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color. In 2005, Campbell founded the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Inglewood to further advocate for culturally informed care. Along the way, she worked to inspire friends and colleagues to propose dedicating a month to raising awareness in underserved groups. In 2008, two years after her death, this dream was actualized when the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution formally designating July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Month. 

The month serves to raise awareness of mental health challenges uniquely affecting communities of color, particularly Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian populations. It calls for culturally competent services, increased representation in mental health professions, and policies that prioritize inclusion and equity. Organizations such as Mental Health America and NAMI utilize this time to share toolkits, host educational events, and highlight community leaders. The overarching goal is to reduce stigma, encourage open dialogue, and push for systems of care that are reflective of and responsive to the lived experiences of historically marginalized groups.

Tobacco use plays a significant and often under-addressed role in mental health outcomes, particularly within Black communities. Research shows that people experiencing mental health challenges are more likely to smoke, with nicotine sometimes used to ease symptoms of anxiety or depression temporarily. However, this relief is short-lived and ultimately worsens mental health over time (NIH, 2016). For Black Americans, these challenges are compounded by the chronic stress of systemic racism and targeted tobacco marketing. For decades, the tobacco industry has heavily promoted menthol cigarettes to Black populations through strategic advertising and sponsorships, leading to disproportionately high usage rates and greater nicotine dependency (AATCLC, n.d.). This has resulted in elevated rates of tobacco-related diseases and further strains on mental and physical health in these communities. As such, Bebe Moore Campbell Minority Mental Health Awareness Month offers a vital opportunity to address the intersection of racial health disparities, mental illness, and the commercial targeting of harmful substances. AMPLIFY! will highlight Minority Mental Health Month in our July 2025 Newsletter. 

For more information and downloadable graphics: 

• https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/bebe-moore-campbell

• https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/bebe-moore-campbell

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