Thrive Celebrates National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

By Shrina Eadeh, LMSW, Director  of Resettlement Services 
Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County

July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.  Bebe Moore Campbell was an author and advocate who spoke out against the stigma associated with mental illness in communities of color. It was her vision that led to the creation of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to bring awareness to the unique struggles and challenges that underrepresented populations face regarding mental health in the United States.

Did you know that The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) completed a National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report in 2018 and they found that racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S. are less likely to have access to mental health services and use community mental health services? They are also more likely to use emergency departments and receive lower quality care. When individuals receive poor quality of care and don’t have access to mental health services this contributes to lower mental health outcomes, including suicide.

This is why I am proud to be a part of Thrive Counseling Services at Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County. Our Thrive therapists are committed to providing affordable, accessible, holistically-oriented and culturally sensitive care to all of our clients, whatever their identification, affiliation, lifestyle, background, orientation or gender expression. We have a diverse counseling staff including staff who speak French, Spanish, and Russian and offer interpretation services to help meet most language needs. JFS also offers mental health psychosocial support groups to refugee and immigrant community members with interpretation. Thrive counselors are dedicated to helping individuals and families of South East Michigan cope, survive and thrive in an ever-changing world.

If you are in need of services, please call us at (734) 436-4249.

Reprinted with permission of Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County. For more information, click HERE