National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness. This observance allows us to raise awareness and foster a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by minority populations at Georgia Tech.
The Wellness Empowerment Center is thrilled to shine a spotlight on an important topic this month: Minority Mental Health Awareness. National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness. This observance allows us to raise awareness and foster a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by minority populations at Georgia Tech. These populations include international students, students that identify as LGBTQIA+, students serving in the military, as well as racial and ethnic minority students.
Kaiser Family Foundation reports that people of color face disproportionate barriers to accessing mental health care and that fatalities from suicide and drug overdoses are higher among the (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) BIPOC community than among the white community. Research from The Trevor Project indicates that LGBTQIA+ youth are still significantly more likely to experience symptoms of mental illness and suicidal thoughts than their heterosexual peers, but that affirming culture has a positive impact in reducing suicidal actions. International students are the “overlooked minority”, according to the National Institutes of Health, and face more impediments to maintaining their mental health than local students. And for veterans, the next battlefront is mental health, with reports from CNN indicating that the rate of major depression among soldiers was five times as high as among civilians, and the rate of PTSD was nearly 15 times higher.
Georgia Tech is committed to changing these statistics worldwide, especially on our campus. For those who are seeking support for their mental well-being or maybe just need someone to talk to, students are encouraged to take advantage of the following resources:
Employees are encouraged to utilize Kepro, The University System of Georgia’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Learn more about ways you can support your own wellness and make a positive impact within our community by checking out the Wellness Empowerment Center.