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Mental Health Month Is for Us Too: Reclaiming Rest and Joy as BIPOC Mental Health Providers
Mental Health Month Is for Us Too: Reclaiming Rest and Joy as BIPOC Mental Health Providers
Every May, Mental Health Month offers a dedicated time to spotlight mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and promote access to care. For many, it’s an invitation to reflect, advocate, and support others. But for those of us who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) mental health professionals, this month carries a layered meaning. It's a reminder of the dual roles we often carry — both as caregivers and as individuals navigating complex systems that haven’t always seen or supported us.
As therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other professionals committed to mental wellness, our work is deeply rooted in healing. But how often do we center our own mental health? How often do we name the unique challenges and gifts of being BIPOC in this field?
Navigating the Profession While Navigating Identity
Being a BIPOC mental health professional means working within systems that are often under-resourced, under-representative, and in some cases, outright harmful to our communities. We bring lived experiences and cultural knowledge that are essential to effective practice, yet those contributions are often undervalued or misunderstood.
Many of us entered this field because we didn’t see people who looked like us offering care. We wanted to change that narrative. But representation alone doesn't protect us from burnout, vicarious trauma, or the emotional labor of code-switching and navigating microaggressions in professional spaces.
It’s not uncommon for BIPOC professionals to be the “go-to” person for DEI initiatives, cultural competency questions, or clients who “need someone who gets it.” While these roles can be meaningful, they also come with the weight of expectations that aren't always shared equitably.
Mental Health Month as a Call-In
This Mental Health Month, I invite us to shift the focus inward. Yes, our clients matter. Yes, systems need change. But so do we.
Let this be a season of calling in — into our own healing, our own joy, and our own community. Let’s move beyond survival mode and begin to ask: What does thriving look like for me, as a BIPOC mental health professional?
Start with Rest
Rest is resistance. In a society that often rewards hustle culture and constant productivity, choosing to rest — especially as a BIPOC professional — is a radical act. Rest isn’t just about sleep; it’s about boundaries, stillness, and giving ourselves permission to be.
As Tricia Hersey of The Nap Ministry reminds us, rest disrupts systems that were never built for us to thrive. This Mental Health Month, schedule time not just for work-life balance, but for intentional rest that nourishes your spirit. It is not indulgent. It is necessary.
Reclaim Joy
Amidst our advocacy, supervision notes, and session plans, joy can sometimes feel like a luxury. But joy is a vital part of mental health. Reclaiming joy — especially collective joy — is an act of self-preservation.
Whether it's laughter with colleagues, celebrating small wins, or dancing in your kitchen to your favorite playlist, joy replenishes what the work can deplete. We deserve to feel good, not just when the job is done, but as part of the journey.
Build Community, Not Competition
The field of mental health can sometimes feel isolating, especially for BIPOC professionals in predominantly white institutions. But our strength lies in community.
This month, consider reaching out to fellow BIPOC colleagues. Organize a virtual meet-up, share resources, or simply check in. Community care is just as essential as self-care. Let’s remind each other that we’re not alone — and that healing work is stronger when done in solidarity.
Advocate for Structural Change
While self and community care are essential, we also know that individual wellness cannot exist in a vacuum. We need systemic transformation.
Mental Health Month is a powerful time to advocate for policy changes, increased funding for culturally competent care, and the inclusion of BIPOC voices at every level of leadership. Use your voice, your platform, and your presence to push for equity — not just for our clients, but for ourselves as professionals in this space.
Whether it’s joining a professional association, mentoring emerging BIPOC therapists, or writing op-eds and articles, every action contributes to a broader movement for justice.
A Gentle Reminder: You Are Enough
Imposter syndrome is real — especially in spaces that were not designed with us in mind. You might question whether your perspective is valued, whether your credentials are “enough,” whether your presence is “too much.”
Let me remind you: You are enough.
Your presence matters. Your story matters. The way you show up with cultural humility and authenticity creates ripples of healing that extend far beyond the therapy room.
You are not just a provider. You are a part of a powerful lineage of resilience, brilliance, and care.
Resources for You
In honor of Mental Health Month, here are a few resources and communities specifically created for BIPOC mental health professionals:
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Therapy for Black Girls & Therapy for Black Men: Community-building and visibility for Black clinicians and clients.
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Latinx Therapy: Resources, directories, and advocacy led by Latinx professionals.
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Asian Mental Health Collective: Community and education centered around Asian identities and wellness.
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Indigenous Circle of Wellness: Centering traditional healing and Indigenous-led care.
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The Melanin Collective: Support for BIPOC professionals navigating burnout and systems change.
Seek out what feeds you. And don’t hesitate to create what doesn’t yet exist.
In Closing
Mental Health Month is about awareness, yes — but also about affirmation. As BIPOC mental health professionals, we carry wisdom, culture, and heart in everything we do. We serve our communities, advocate for justice, and break generational cycles.
But we are also human. And we are worthy of the same care we extend to others.
This May, let’s honor our work by honoring ourselves — with rest, with joy, with each other. Let’s use this month not just to raise awareness, but to raise ourselves.
Together.
To learn more about why self-care matters for mental health professionals, check out our ASWB & NBCC Approved CE Course https://www.rscourses.com/courses/RevitalizeandThriveMentalHealthPro
