Published March 1, 2024 by Zencare Team
Black History Month, previously called and celebrated as early as 1962 as “Negro History Week”, was an event created by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Dr. Woodson’s goal was to increase awareness of often overlooked historical events and important historical figures.
Over time, the scope and magnitude of celebrating Black History Month has amplified. Not only is Black History Month celebrated in the United States, but also in European countries, and Canada.
We have collected our favorite resources across various organizations from this year’s Black History Month to curate a bank of easily accessible links for folks to explore. The resources below have an emphasis on Black mental health, but include histories of mental health, resources to find mental health care, and more. This list is not exhaustive, but if you believe anything is missing from this list, please reach out to hello@zencare.co and we will add it!
History of Black Mental Health — Mental Health America
- Black Pioneers in Mental Health
- The Black Mental Health Alliance
- Resources from The Black Mental Health Alliance
Black Youth Resources — Recorded Webinars from MHTTC
- Black Youth Suicide: Exploring a Public Health Crisis and the Role of Racial Trauma Recording
- Social Influencers of Health and Suicide in Black Youth Recording
- ADHD in the Black Community: Unmet Needs from Childhood through Adulthood Recording
- Barriers and Risk Factors for Black LGBTQ+ Youth: Suggestions for Improving their Lived Experiences Recording
Social Media, Books, and Podcasts
Hit the follow button!
- @blackmentalhealth
- @bmhaofficial
- @alkemehealth
- @thelovelandfoundation
- @melaninandmentalhealth
- @blhensonfoundation
- @therapyforblackgirls
- @silencetheshame
- @blackmentalwellness
- @blackmalementalhealth
- @blackgirlinom
- @diveinwell
- @thenapministry
- @healhaus
- @qtpocmentalhealth
Add these books to your TBR (To Be Read) list!
Books on behavioral health written by Black people
- Bipolar Faith: A Black Woman’s Journey with Depression and Faith by Monica A. Coleman
- My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem MSW, LICSW, SEP
- Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Woman’s Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety, Panic, and Fear by Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett
- The Color of Hope: People of Color Mental Health Narratives by Iresha Picot
- Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting by Terrie Williams
Books on Mental Health, and Black Experiences
- Black Mental Wellness — Coping & Wellness Book List
- New York Public Library — Schomburg Center's Black Liberation Reading List
- Chicago Public Library — Black History: Recent Highlights (February 2024)
- Black Mental Health & Black Therapists Book List
Podcasts on Black Mental Health
- Black Girls Heal
- The Black Psychologist Podcast
- Between Sessions Podcast
- Balanced Black Girl
- All Black Men Need Therapy
- Celeste the Therapist
- Minding My Black Business
- Naming It
The Mental Health Landscape and Support
Learning About Mental Health in the Black Community
- The Mental Health Coalition — Roadmap to Black Mental Health
- African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence
- Black Women for Wellness
- Black Mental Health: What You Need To Know
- Why It’s Time to Shift the Focus to Mental Health in the Black Community
Connecting With Mental Health Support and Services
- Therapy for Black Girls
- Therapy for Black Men
- BEAM
- AAKOMA Project
- Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation
- Center for Healing Racial Trauma
- National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide
- For the Gworls
- The Confess Project of America
- The Steve Fund
- Black Mental Wellness
- Depressed While Black
- Black Therapists Rock
- Pretty Brown Girl
Zencare Blog Posts on Black Mental Health
- Zencare x The Loveland Foundation Therapy Fund: Information for Clients
- How To Find a Black Therapist: Resources and Advice
- Racial Trauma: Origins, Signs, and Courses of Treatment
Zencare Blog Posts for allies or people working towards allyship, including therapists
- 8 Things for Non-Black Folks to Know About Black Mental Health Right Now
- 10 Ways to Bring Culturally Competent Care into Therapy for Minority Clients
- Black and African-American Mental Health: Disparities in Diagnosis and Treatment
- Obstacles and Solutions for POC Mental Health Access – in Rhode Island and Beyond
Find a Therapist with Zencare as a Black person
For Black folks, finding a therapist who shares their racial identity can be one of the most important factors in the therapist search. They may find Black therapists are better able to understand their culture, values, and experiences, especially those relating to oppression, racism, and intergenerational trauma.
If finding a therapist who matches your cultural, racial and/or ethnic background is important to you, we can help you find that therapist. On our search directory, after you’ve selected the area you want to find a therapist in, head to the Identity filter.
Zencare’s Identity filter allows you to not only select provider identities that align with culture, race or ethnicity, but also faith and gender. Select any identities that correspond to what you’re looking for in a therapist, and your search results will update.
Crisis Resources
If you are currently experiencing a crisis or emergency, please dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
- Didi Hirsch’s Crisit Chat
- Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the US
- SAVE International Resources for Suicide Prevention
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- The Trevor Project — Call 1-866-7386 or text START to 678678
- Trans Lifeline — Dial 877-565-8860 for US and 877-330-6366 for Canada
- Physician Support Line