July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

In observance of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA) has launched a social media campaign to raise awareness about mental illness in diverse communities.

In 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives designated July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Campbell was a leading African American journalist and novelist, and a national spokesperson for individuals and families affected by mental illness. She died in 2006.

“Disparities in mental health care can prevent people in diverse communities from getting the treatment they need. The outcomes of poorer quality of care come at a high cost to every community,” says OCCMHA Executive Director and CEO, Willie Brooks. “Our goal is to educate people about mental illness, treatment and research, and eliminate stigma about mental health. All people have the right to quality care and services.”

Mental illness affects approximately one in five American families and people in diverse communities are no exception. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that minorities:

· are less likely to receive diagnosis and treatment for their mental illness

· have less access to and availability of mental health services

· often receive a poorer quality of mental health care

· are underrepresented in mental health research

For additional information about National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, and to access resources and suggested activities, visit: www.nami.org/nmmham.

About OCCMHA

Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority is the public mental health system responsible for identifying, influencing, and delivering services and supports to approximately 25,000 Oakland County residents, including individuals with intellectual/developmental
disabilities, adults with mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbance, and persons with substance use disorders. Most of these individuals have Medicaid.

OCCMHA’s current network of service providers include: Common Ground, Community Housing Network, Community Living Services, Community Network Services, Easter Seals Michigan, Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Oakland Family Services, Inc., and Training and Treatment Innovations. A complete list of substance use service providers is available on OCCMHA’s website. For more information about OCCMHA call (800) 341-2003 or visit www.occmha.org.

About NAMI

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, www.nami.org, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. For more information visit www.nami.org.