Here at Peers.net we’ve been celebrating Black History Month by sharing our favorite black mental health heroes and their strategies of culturally competent care. To us, mental health heroes are people who aren’t afraid to speak up and break the stigma around mental health, and who are making a major impact in their community. In this article, we are going to highlight a few of our favorites, and talk about why representation in mental health is so important.<h2>Celebrities and Mental Health</h2>To kick off our celebration, we are starting with a few celebrity mental health advocates who are using their star power to make major change. Not only are these celebrity mental health advocates speaking up about mental health, but they are fully invested in campaigns and foundations that provide mental health resources to the black community.&nbsp;<ul><li>Taraji P. Henson: Taraji is an actress and the founder of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://borislhensonfoundation.org/">Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation</a>. Taraji created the foundation after the passing of her father, Boris, and realized there was a distinct lack of culturally appropriate mental health care. The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation provides educational programs and mental health resources for anyone who needs it. </li><li>Megan Thee Stallion: Megan Thee Stallion is a celebrity mental health advocate a singer and rapper who is vocal about mental health both in her music and in her public statements. She created the mental health site, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.badbitcheshavebaddaystoo.com/">Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too</a>, that highlights culturally competent mental health resources. </li><li>Kid Cudi: In the last few years, Kid Cudi has bravely <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.self.com/story/kid-cudi-mental-health-rehab">opened up</a> about his experience with suicidal thoughts and depression. He now speaks at mental health fundraising events, and uses his experiences to show others there is light at the end of the tunnel. The stigma around mental health is severe, specifically for black men, so we are celebrating all of Kid Cudi’s amazing work this and every month.&nbsp;</li></ul><h2>Accounts to Follow</h2>We love a good social media account that advocates for mental health. Here are a few non-profits and people we love to see pop up on our feed. They all focus on culturally competent care and finding the right mental health resources for those who need them.&nbsp;<ul><li>Sad Girls Club (@sadgirlsclub) is a nonprofit org committed to destigmatizing mental illness for women, girls, and femmes of color. Founded by Elyse Fox, Sad Girls Club shares tips, resources, and advice on how to prioritize mental health. </li><li>The Loveland Foundation (@thelovelandfoundation) is a non-profit focused on highlighting black women and girls and their journey to mental wellness. They highlight black therapists and authors, and provide mental health check ins online. </li><li>Alex Elle (@alex_elle) is a writer, wellness advocate, and mental health speaker. She shares her personal stories and experiences related to mental health, self-love, and self-care. Elle’s work often centers on the experiences of Black women and promotes healing and self-acceptance.</li></ul><h2>Black Therapists We Love</h2>To get additional information about mental health care for the Black community, we love the resources that these Black therapists share and the books they publish.&nbsp;<ul><li>Nedra Glover Tawwab (@nedratawwab) is a black female therapist and author who uses her work to guide readers and viewers through tough relationship dynamics. She provides interesting and insightful advice, and is definitely one of our favorite therapists on social media right now. </li><li>Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble (@dralfiee) is a psychologist, author, and mental health advocate. He focuses on mental health disparities, particularly within the Black community, and shares insights and resources to promote mental well-being.</li><li>Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis (@dr.themabryant) is a licensed psychologist, professor, speaker, and author. She shares valuable insights and resources on mental health, trauma, and healing, with a particular focus on the experiences of Black individuals.</li><li>Dr. Bradford M. Howard (@askdrbrad) is a licensed psychologist who specializes in men’s mental health. He provides insights and resources on topics such as masculinity, relationships, self-care, and emotional well-being.</li></ul><h2>The Power of Culturally Competent Care</h2>As a mental health company, we are committed to finding ways to provide accessible mental healthcare for everyone. It is important to provide resources that fit an individual’s life experience and identity, so that they feel seen and respected. Culturally competent mental health care is the cornerstone to successful mental health resources.&nbsp;At Peers.net, we work hard to put this principle into action. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://peers.net/">Peers.net</a> is a HIPAA compliant telehealth platform where you can connect with professional peer support specialists via 1:1 online mental health support sessions. On our platform, you can filter by identity, ethnicity, and life experiences to find someone that feels just right for you.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/egp42FUlAoCVaoro96BszNewgIH4YyZCUvyUO7rYTW2n4ZTKOudqDUVd5IHQg3Mih2Zuwz_m5lF0F64RaRaOWnPFr5bHfUfRUyuPsLI30vW4CoB7PC_yLv5S6QiSMQM-1PKnvUa7ahufvLt56apSf-E" width="246" height="222">Meet Ziale! Ziale is a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://peers.net/peer-support-training-job">certified peer support specialist</a> and has experiences with depression and low self esteem. Ziale uses her experiences to connect with others who are going through the same thing. She provides them with advice, coping strategies, and skills to make it through depression and self esteem issues. You can check out how peer support is helpful for the BIPOC community and culturally competent care <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.peers.net/2023/10/10/finding-strength-in-shared-experiences-the-power-of-peer-support-for-bipoc-mental-health/">here!</a>Black History Month is a great opportunity to learn more about black mental health advocates, but their work is important well beyond the month of February. You can use the accounts, foundations, and lists provided to support Black mental health heroes at all times of year.&nbsp;

Hannah Johns

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