There is so much strength in our communities—so much resilience, wisdom, and beauty. We’ve built, we’ve survived, we’ve thrived.
But even those with the strongest shoulders need rest and the most resilient hearts deserve healing.
And yet, when it comes to mental health, many People of Color have been taught to stay silent. To keep going. To pray about it. To push through. In many of our homes, therapy was something “other people” did and one’s mental health was not discussed. Pain was something you buried, not something you named or complained about.
And stigma—deep, painful, and generational—has taught many People of Color to believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness.
It’s not.
The Unspoken Weight
In many communities of color, mental health struggles carry an extra layer of shame. It’s not just “I’m not okay.” It’s:
“What will people think?”
“We don’t talk about that.”
“Don’t bring that mess into this house.”
This silence isn’t accidental. It’s rooted in history—years of systemic oppression, medical mistrust, cultural survival, and the belief that there’s no room for vulnerability. Costing many People of Color, joy, connection, emotional safety, life and living.
The Impact Is Real
Unaddressed mental health struggles can lead to:
Chronic stress and burnout
Negative Physical Health Implications
Poor Decision Making and Diminished Judgement
Generational trauma being passed down without understanding or awareness
Impaired Relationships and Reduced Employability
Various addictions as a form of coping
Suicidal Thoughts, Behaviors and Attempts
And let’s be honest: oppression, disenfranchisement, microaggressions, generational trauma, and daily injustice all weigh on our mental well-being. We are not imagining it. Our pain is real. And we deserve real care.
We Heal in Community
Breaking the stigma doesn’t start with a hashtag. It starts in our homes, our barbershops, our churches, our pages and posts, our group chats. It starts when we say:
“Therapy helped me, and I think it could help you too.”
“You’re not weak. You’re human.”
“It’s okay to not be okay.”
“You don’t have to carry this alone.”
Healing is not about erasing our pain. It’s about giving ourselves permission to feel it—and to be supported in it.
Reclaiming Our Right to Rest and Wellness
Rest is resistance. Joy is resistance. Healing is resistance.
Taking care of your mental health isn’t just for you—it’s for the generations before you who didn’t have access, and for the ones after you who will grow up seeing care as normal, not shameful.
We Deserve to Be Well
If no one else has told you today, let this be your reminder:
You are not weak for feeling deeply. You are not broken for needing help.
You are not alone in your struggle. You are allowed to take up space in your healing.
Mental health is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. And you, your story, and your well-being matter.
It’s time to release the silence and reclaim healing.
Because we are more than what we’ve survived.
We are worthy of peace and break cycles when we choose healing.
We shift culture when we speak honestly and grow stronger when we grow together.
