By Bree Durant-Russ, Intern

In a powerful statement this July, Governor Matt Meyer officially proclaimed July 2025 as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, aligning with the longstanding national observance better known as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month which was first established by the U.S. Congress in 2008

This month recognizes the unique mental health challenges that racial, ethnic, and cultural minority communities face across the United States, including Delaware, and calls for increased awareness, equitable access to care and culturally responsive support.

 Why This Month Matters:

• Nearly one in five U.S. adults about 23% experience a mental illness each year.
• Despite similar prevalence rates, BIPOC adults (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) are significantly less likely to receive mental health services:
  • Hispanic adults: 40% treatment rate
  • Black adults: 38%
  • Asian adults: 36%
    Compared to White adults: 56%.
• African American adults receive mental health care at less than half the rate of non‑Hispanic Whites despite similar levels of need.
• In 2020, fewer than half of African American adults with a mental health condition accessed care.
• In 2018, Asian Americans were 60% less likely to receive treatment compared to non-Hispanic Whites.

These disparities are shaped by factors such as stigma, lack of culturally competent care, language barriers, and limited access to insurance and mental health providers.

What This Proclamation Means for Delaware

Governor Meyer may have said it best when he said, “Every Delawarean deserves access to compassionate, culturally informed care. … This month, we stand in solidarity with communities of color and recommit to removing the barriers that prevent too many families from getting the support they need.” By signing this recognition, he elevated awareness for our BIPOC and minority neighbors while supporting equity and engaging communities in the effort.

At DJ’s Alliance, we believe it is critical to continue bringing a variety of stakeholders to the table and, let’s face it, mental health affects all of us. But what we also see is that we still have communities even within our small state that struggle to access the care they need, just like the statistics suggest. We were grateful to see this acknowledgement from Governor Meyer for Minority Mental Health Awareness Month as we continue to push mental health awareness and advocacy forward in the First State.

July’s designation as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is more than symbolic, it’s a reminder of commitment. It calls on Delaware’s leaders, families, residents and businesses to recognize disparities, uplift resilience and take tangible steps toward equity and inclusion. May this proclamation inspire actions big and small that bring healing, hope and better outcomes for all Delawareans.

 Ways You Can Get Involved

1. Learn and Share
   • Educate yourself about mental health.
   • Use your voice to promote acceptance and reduce stigma in your community.
2. Attend Local Events or Virtual Workshops
   • Seek out programming hosted by community mental health organizations, universities, schools or providers.
   • Go to mental health advocacy meetings like the Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition.
   • Volunteer!
3. Support Culturally Competent Services
   • Seek or support practitioners who are trained in cross-cultural care.
   • Advocate for systems that address language barriers and recognize the impact of racism and systemic inequities.
4. Reach Out and Listen
   • Encourage open conversations about mental wellness.
   • If someone is in crisis, visit our crisis resources link which includes links and numbers to BIPOC, Native American, elderly and LGBTQIA+ helplines, plus others, ensuring that everyone can talk to someone who truly understands.