Honoring BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month

Each July, BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month offers time to reflect on the disparities that still exist, and the strength communities have shown in the face of them. It’s also a reminder of what healing can look like when systems begin to center the people they serve.

At Helio Health, we believe that mental health care should be accessible, respectful, and centered on the lived experiences of every person. That includes acknowledging the cultural, historical, and systemic barriers BIPOC communities often face and building services that actively reduce them.

BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month was founded in 2008 by author and advocate Bebe Moore Campbell to enhance public awareness of mental illness among underserved communities. Today her legacy continues by spotlighting the unique mental health needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Why BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month Matters

Racism, generational trauma, and limited access to care doesn’t just affect mental health. It shapes it. For many BIPOC individuals seeking help isn’t a simple step. It often means navigating systems that haven’t always felt safe or built for them. According to the American Psychological Association BIPOC individuals with serious mental illness are more likely to end up in crisis situations, relying on emergency services or facing involuntary hospitalization rather than receiving consistent support in the community. They’re also more likely to be over diagnosed with schizophrenia, prescribed higher doses of medication, and less likely to get care for things like co-occurring depression.

Even when new tools are created, like the 9-8-8 crisis line, awareness doesn’t always follow. Since its launch in 2022, 9-8-8 has made it easier to reach crisis support but a 2024 KFF study found that many people in BIPOC and immigrant communities still don’t know it exists. Language barriers, limited outreach, and a lack of trust in systems all play a role.

These disparities highlight real barriers that shape how people experience care. That’s why culturally competent care matters. When services understand the whole person, healing feels more possible.

At Helio Health, we believe people deserve care that sees their full identity, respects their history, and adapts to their needs. That’s the approach we take across all our services.

Many BIPOC individuals face care that feels disconnected from their lived experiences whether because of stigma, underrepresentation in the provider workforce, or past experiences of discrimination. Every day we work to change that dynamic by making space for identity, experience, and choice.

Peer Specialists: Healing With Someone Who Gets It

One of the most powerful forms of connection in recovery comes from people who’ve been there. Our Certified Recovery Peer Recovery Specialists bring lived experience to the table, offering support that’s rooted in shared understanding.

They listen without judgment, provide practical support, and can model what hope and progress look like. For many, especially those who have experienced stigma or discrimination, that kind of connection is the difference between giving care a chance and walking away.

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS) Build Skills for Life

Our Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services at our CCBHC is recovery in action. Specialists partner with individuals to build the skills they need for the life they want. That could mean developing coping strategies, working toward employment, improving daily routines, or learning to manage money or medications.

It’s person-centered, goal-driven, and shaped by what that individual defines as meaningful. For BIPOC individuals navigating complex life systems, PRS can offer structure and support that feels grounded.

Community-Based Care That Comes to You

Healing doesn’t always start in a clinic. That’s why we offer mobile services, care management, and outreach teams that connect with people in their communities and on their terms. In the City of Syracuse, our Syracuse Crisis Intervention & Prevention Program (SCIPP) team is part of a 911 diversion effort that sends mental health professionals, not just police, when someone is in crisis. They show up with harm reduction supplies, de-escalation support, and a plan to connect people to longer-term care.

For many BIPOC individuals, who too often face criminalization instead of care, programs like SCIPP offer safety, compassion, and a path forward that centers healing instead of punishment.

Care You Can Afford

For many BIPOC individuals, cost is one of the biggest barriers to getting help. At Helio Health, we don’t turn people away because they can’t pay. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, we offer free or discounted care based on your income and household size. If you qualify for insurance, our Patient Navigators can help you apply for a plan that fits your needs.

Recovery is possible. But no one should have to do it alone or feel like they must fight for care that understands them. This month, we honor the work that’s come before us and stay committed to building a future where BIPOC individuals are not only included but prioritized in mental health care. If you or someone you love is looking for support, contact Helio Health today.