This July’s Minority Mental Health Awareness month is more relevant than ever. The pandemic not only impacted those from minority ethnic groups more than others, it highlighted the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face when it comes to mental health and stigma.
But this isn’t a conversation we should save for July. At Make A Difference Media we firmly believe that a diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging lens should be at the forefront of workplace mental health and wellbeing initiatives year-round.
Mind Share Partners is a U.S. based non-profit changing the culture of workplace mental health so that both employees and organisations can thrive. For those organisations that want to understand how to amplify awareness around minority mental health and build momentum, Mind Share Partners has put together the following three action items. They have a U.S. focus but many of the suggestions are transferrable to the U.K. and elsewhere:
1. Company leadership can share both internal and external resources, whether it’s extra time off, mental health benefits and resources, or links to external resources for support or donations.
- Black Mental Health At Work
- LGBTQIA+ Mental Health At Work
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Mental Health At Work
- Indian Professionals And Those In The Diaspora
- Latinx/Hispanic Mental Health Resources by MHA
2. Mental health Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have an opportunity to support other ERGs (such as Black, Asian and Latinx ERGs) within their organisations. Leadership support and engagement in these efforts are vital to success and sustainability.
3. Educate yourself and share information about mental health in the Black community and other underrepresented groups.
- How Workplaces Can Support Black Mental Health, Interview with Imadé Nibokun Borha, founder of “Depressed While Black”
- Mental Health Facts for African Americans, American Psychiatric Association
- What Do Coronavirus Racial Disparities Look Like State By State?, NPR
- George Floyd video adds to trauma, USA Today
- The Indian Community Is Grappling With Our Mental Health, And We Desperately Need Help, Thrive Global
- Anti-Asian Racism Is A Mental Health Crisis That Workplaces Need To Address, Forbes
Whilst Mind Share Partners has a predominantly U.S. focus, they are continuing to expand globally as they do more work with multinationals and grow their training and advising. Their content and training/advising continues to evolve and reflect that.
You can learn more about Mind Share Partners’ approach to mental health and DEI here.
You might also be interested in:
Joining us at the 4th annual MAD World Summit on 21st October where the need to keep diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging at the forefront of workplace mental health and wellbeing initiatives will be a key theme. This will thread right through the agenda, with clear calls to action for attendees at the end of every session.
Dr. Kamel Hothi, OBE: How to Be the Change You Want to See in the World
The Esteem Compass: Self-Care Tips to Support Minority Mental Health
Driving the Mental Health and Wellbeing Agenda in 2020 and Beyond
