Bebe Moore Campbell DALLAS—The local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will sponsor an event in observance of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to raise awareness about severe 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 who wrote empathetically about treatment of the difficult, intertwined and occasionally surprising relationship between the races, and a national spokesperson for individuals and families affected by mental illness. She died in 2006 from complications of brain cancer. “Unfortunately, disparities in mental health care still prevent people in diverse communities from getting the treatment that they need,” said Michael Fitzpatrick, NAMI executive director. “Our goal is to educate people about mental illness, treatment and research, and to eliminate stigma. All people deserve access to quality mental health services.”
Mental illness affects one in four 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/minoritymentalhealthmonth.