SAN ANGELO, Texas — July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This month advocates for people of color to seek mental health when they feel they need it.
Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, color, gender or identity. Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness regardless of their background.
Mental Health America reports at least 15% of people of color deal with mental illness, but only a small percentage get help. This is why the month of July advocates for minority groups who deal with mental illness in the United States.
Mental health has become a huge issue, not just in San Angelo, but around the world, especially for minorities. We see a greater level of difficulty because it's built into their culture to not ask for help and to pull yourself up by your bootstraps or suck it up and get over it, or all the things that don't really go anywhere in terms of helping,” San Angelo Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness advocate Ami Berez Mizell-Flint said.
Johna Burch wasn’t raised in a household where mental health was a big priority, but took the time to seek help when needed and encourages that for the next generation.
“I think a lot of it had to do with the way they were raised also and not feeling comfortable to reach out and say, hey, I'm really struggling. So it did kind of bleed over into me growing up that way also. But now I'm trying to break that and let them know it is okay to talk about having mental illness,” Burch explained.
Flint wants West Texans to know that help is only a phone call away for anyone in need of a helping hand.
“People need to know that they're not alone. And if you're experiencing a bout of severe anxiety or depression, or if you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar, you're not the only one. There are many, many people with you and seek help. There are people out there willing and ready to help you.
NAMI is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesday-Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays at 404 S. Irving St.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or dial 911 in case of emergency.