July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

Congress declared July as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (NMMHAM) in 2008 to honor BeBe Moore Campbell who The Washington Post calls "one of the most important African-American authors of the century."

Bebe Moore Campbell (February 18, 1950 ? November 27, 2006) was an award winning journalist, New York Times Bestselling author, National Public Radio (NPR) commentator, teacher and family member of a person living with a mental health disorder. Three of her books landed on The New York Times bestselling list (Brothers and Sisters, Singing in the Comeback Choir, and What You Owe Me) while "Brothers and Sisters" (1995) and "Sweet Summer" (1989) became films.

As a mental health advocate, she wrote about her life experiences to educate the nation about mental illness while sparking those well needed mental health conversations in minority communities. Some examples are:

Her first play, "Even with the Madness," (2003) deals with the theme of mental illness and the family;

Her first children's book, "Sometimes Mommy Gets Angry" (2003) tells the story of how a little girl copes with being raised by a mother diagnosed with mental illness; and

Her last adult book "72 Hour Hold," (2005) focuses on a woman struggling to find treatment for her daughter's bipolar disorder.

Since her life and work serves as testimony to her dedication to eliminating mental health stigma through education, advocacy and support, she was awarded The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Outstanding Literature Award in 2003.

To quote Ms. Campbell, "Stigma is one of the main reasons people with mental health problems don't seek treatment or take their medication. People of color, particularly African Americans, feel stigma more keenly and many don't want to be perceived as having yet another deficit in a race conscious society."

Ms. Campbell died from cancer in 2006 but Congress ensures her memory every July.

NAMI Massachusetts The Schrafft's Center 529 Main St., Suite 1M17, Boston, MA 02129 Phone: 617-580-8541 Email: info@ Website:

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