Mental health is a growing societal concern which leaders across sectors are increasingly recognizing.  In honor of World Mental Health Day, we spoke with Jazmine and Jorge, two of the NationSwell Fellows taking part in our pilot Accelerator Program, about their work breaking down barriers to mental health awareness and practice in BIPOC communities. They’re producing and refining a digital content series and resource project which  specifically focuses on the dynamics between parents/caregivers and their children, specifically in showing and recognizing help-seeking and help-giving behaviors. This work comes at a pivotal time on the heels of an advisory by the Surgeon General on the mental health and well-being of parents and caregivers. 

NationSwell: Tell us about your work and why it’s important?

We’ve developed an unscripted video series on intergenerational mental health conversations between BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) youth and their caregivers with Dr. Monica Band, a trauma-informed licensed mental health therapist,  along with a digital resource on mental health myths and best practices around having nurturing discussions around mental health. We know, first hand, these types of conversations can be touchy in our communities. 

These will all be available in several languages which is really important to us because we want to ensure that the populations that we’re serving can really use this. According to a 2020 ACS survey, 25% of US households speak a language other than English. We really want to make sure that this is usable for the folks and communities that we’re looking to highlight and center within the work.

One of the big myths that we’re working to demystify is that mental health is a “white people thing”. Due to a lack of understanding, a lot of older folks within BIPOC communities don’t  consider it urgent enough to prioritize, take care of, or even begin to learn about how to have conversations around it. This makes being open and vulnerable with one another difficult which is important when establishing strong connections rooted in trust. 

The inspiration for the video series stems from our personal experiences having conversations with parents and the difficulty in having to translate our mental health struggles. Currently in our communities, it’s often the responsibility of youth to be the ones starting and carrying these conversations. We really want to provide a blueprint to make it less intimidating for both parties. We hope to encourage people to have important conversations with their loved ones so they can be there for each other and build really strong systems of support and care. 

We really aim to help bridge the generational gaps between caregivers and their children to nurture and foster compassion and increase understanding that mental health is a part of the human experience. While it can be difficult to be vulnerable, it doesn’t necessarily always have to be complicated. You don’t need to be an expert to ask people if they’re okay. You don’t need to have a degree to have a conversation about mental health and just show people that you care.

NS: What are the unique barriers faced by communities of color when it comes to mental health?

There are a lot of barriers faced by marginalized groups, specifically people of color, when it comes to mental health. Our project aims to tackle three specific barriers.

First, is the stereotypes in BIPOC communities that exist around mental health, including that mental health struggles are a sign of weakness, that it reflects poorly on the family, and that it’s just airing out a family’s dirty laundry. A report on mental health seeking barriers in U.S. teen populations found teens from ethnic minority backgrounds 49% of Black teens feared being seeing as week or not mentally strong compared to 42% of non-black teens; for Hispanic/Latinx teens reported feeling unsafe, unsupported, and afraid of retaliation as barriers to help-seeking; 47% of Asian teens reported their problems were not serious enough to talk to others about, compared to 42% of the general population. These beliefs encourage isolation and a lack of support from within BIPOC communities.

There isn’t a strong foundation or clear examples on how to support people with mental health needs, particularly young people. This can discourage BIPOC youth from seeking mental help and further encourages parents and caregivers to deprioritize their own mental health.

Second, is the cultural and language barriers.  When folks do begin to seek services, there’s a shortage of culturally competent and sensitive care. Culture is a big piece of people’s identity so finding care that takes this into consideration is very important in people feeling safe, protected, and incentivized to continue care.

Finally, we aim to address historical trauma between BIPOC communities and the healthcare system, which has a history of fostering mistrust – according to a recent survey, 69% of people from ethnic minority groups self-reported distrusting healthcare providers. The healthcare system in the US was not created with Black and Brown people’s wellness  in mind. So the policies, funding, research, representation in media, etc., are void of Black and Brown voices to center our wants and needs.

NS: What are the benefits for BIPOC parents in embracing mental health awareness and practice?

Parents working on normalizing and increasing their awareness of mental health and how to practice caring for others within the community strengthens their interpersonal relationships. Through these unscripted conversations, we’re trying to demonstrate how these discussions can look in real time, modeling what help seeking behavior looks like, and what giving support looks like. 

There is a lot of cultural messaging that encourages children to talk to their parents about what’s going on in their lives, and for parents to ask their children about what they’re going through. But there is a lack of knowledge on how to actually put this into practice, whether it’s conversation starters, supportive behaviors, or ways to affirm a loved one. Our videos will model empathetic conversations between parents and their children. We’re hoping they will act as a guide on what healthy conversations, that strengthen connections and deepen bonds, can look like. 

Our goal with these videos and resources is to nurture open lines of communication between parents and children, especially with the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisories on the youth mental health crisis and the most recent one on parental well-being.

NS: What do BIPOC kids want from their parents when it comes to understanding mental health?

You don’t need to be an expert to show people you care about their mental health. BIPOC parents want to say the right thing and that can make them fearful to approach these types of discussions. Children are not always looking for their parents to fix anything or offer solutions. Instead of assuming what your kids want, ask them what they need and how they want to be supported and center them in those conversations. We want to feel like we’re being seen and understood – 

Ways you can do this are through active listening, asking questions, allowing them to lead the conversation, and trusting and believing what your child is telling you without questioning them. If your child comes to you with something they’re struggling with, assure them that you’re going to be there for them. You don’t need to come with plan A, B or C, just show support in a way that makes them feel heard.

NS: What do you hope your work will accomplish long-term?

Our hope is that by beginning these conversations, we are ultimately promoting a future where mental health discussions are normalized across generations, breaking generational cycles of trauma and suffering in silence.

We want our series and guide to make people feel hopeful and inspired to build stronger relationships and connections with people in their communities.  

NS: How can people get involved?

Please share our story and work with folks you think this could be helpful for and more broadly with your networks. The more people are aware of what we’re doing, the more we can spread our message and ensure these resources reach the people who need them.

If people or organizations are able to provide funds or even resources on how to access funds – we are always looking for grants we can apply for.

We’re currently expanding our team right now, slowly but surely. So, if you’re interested in getting involved in a more hands-on way, connect with us on through LinkedIn: Jorge Alvarez, Jazmine Alcon