Mental Health Resources for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Communities

People with mental illness experience discrimination in all aspects of their lives. For Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) with mental health issues, racism compounds that experience of discrimination. For those that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, intersex, and agender/asexual (LGBTQIA+), additional prejudice, discrimination, and family rejection contribute to further trauma. All of this negatively impacts mental health.

BIPOC are less likely to have access to services and receive mental health care. We are also less likely to seek help. When we do receive support, the care is often lacking, and we are likely to end services prematurely because of past negative experiences, lack of trust, and relatability to providers. Additionally, many of us face cultural stigma and expectations of behavior that impact our ability to self-advocate, talk about mental health, and seek support.

I grew up in a South Asian family. Cultural stigma, avoidance of taboo subjects, heavy reliance on public perception were pervasive, and mental health was never openly discussed. A common phrase in my household was, “what will people say?” Hearing this almost daily instilled me with feelings of judgment, shame, and guilt. The fear of what people would say pushed me into marriage at a young age. I spent four years trapped in an emotionally and physically abusive marriage. I was afraid to tell anyone what was going on and what I was going through. Divorce wasn’t an option because of what other people would think, and I couldn’t disappoint and bring shame to my family.

In my culture, there’s also the conflict of putting your needs before that of others. I know I’m not alone in being brought up with collectivism over individualism, where talking about your feelings and centering a conversation around yourself is inappropriate. When I was going through my divorce, my best friend convinced me to see a therapist. I was a student at the time without insurance, and student counseling was my only option. I set up an initial appointment and was denied counseling services after being told what I was experiencing was normal. I didn’t fight it, and I didn’t advocate for myself. I spent the next decade finding various therapists that I couldn’t relate to or make progress with. I am a mental health professional, and as much awareness as I have of my challenges, none of the providers I found understood my struggle to talk about myself. The majority of therapists are white and do not represent the diversity in our population. This lack of diversity in providers results in poor relatability.

The stigma of mental illness, insufficient access, lack of affordability, poor relatability, discrimination, and racism lead to avoidance of treatment. When you add familial guilt, judgment, and shame, you can start to understand why so many people experiencing mental health issues don’t receive the support they need. As overwhelming as these challenges are, we are not alone, and help is available.

I’ve compiled a list of mental health resources for varying communities because we deserve appropriate mental health care that is right for us.

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress: 800–273–8255 (English y español)
• Crisis Text Line offers 24/7 support. Text “START” to 741–741
• SAMHSA National Helpline offers 24/7 treatment referral information for mental and substance use disorders: 800–662–4357 (English y español)
• List of international crisis hotlines
• Fact sheet for diverse populations
• Support guides, toolkits, and fact sheets in various languages
• Find a therapist you identify with, multiple language options
• Psychotherapy between $30–60 per session, search by provider race/ethnicity
• Therapists and founders of Melanin and Mental Health, Eliza Boquin and Eboni Harris, “two brown chicks changing the face of therapy,” host Between Sessions Podcast
• How to find an antiracist therapist
• Mental Health America’s Resource list for BIPOC and intersectional communities

Resources for Native and Indigenous Communities

• Fact sheet and resources
• The Native Wellness Institute promotes the well-being of Native people and hosts regular sessions on Facebook Live
• We R Native provides comprehensive health resources for Native youth, by Native youth
• Native American Ellen Blackcloud on The Mental Illness Happy Hour
• NativeTalk.net radio podcast discussing mental health with Puyallup tribal member Danelle Reed, PhD

Resources for Black Communities

• Fact sheet and resources
• NAMI’s list of Black mental health resources
• Financial assistance for therapy for Black girls and women
• Therapy for Black Girls encourages the mental wellness of Black women and girls, and they have a great podcast
• Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation heals Black communities with free therapy and a directory of providers.
• Black Mental Health Podcast

Resources for Latinx Communities

• Fact sheet and resources
• NAMI is a must, here is their resource list
• La guía en español
• Publicaciónes en español
• Latinx therapist directory and bilingual podcast
• La Cura podcast about Latinx healing and well-being

Resources for Asian/Pacific Islander Communities

• Fact sheet and resources
• International organization directory
• Asian Mental Health Collective therapist directory and podcast
• South Asian provider directory
• Behavioral Health Directory for AAPI Californians
• Stories of Stigma: South Asian Mental Health podcast

Resources for LGBTQIA+ Communities

• The LGBT National Hotline peer support and resources: 888–843–4564, M-F: 1pm-9pm PST, Sa: 9am-2pm PST
• Desi LGBTQ Helpline for South Asians: 908–367–3374, Th: 5–7pm PST, Su: 5–7pm PST
• Trans Lifeline connects trans people to support and resources 24/7: 877–565–8860
• The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people ages 13–24: 866–488–7386
• TrevorText provides confidential, live help for LGBTQ youth with a trained specialist, over text messages. Text “START” to 678–678
• LGBT National Youth Talkline for ages 25 and younger: 800–246–7743, M-F: 1pm-9pm PST, Sa: 9am-2pm PST
• Fact sheet and resources
• National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color network directory
• Queer Women of Color Podcast

Sheela Ivlev (she/her) is a Bengali American Occupational Therapist, Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, and consultant. She is committed to removing the barriers to care that keep people from accessing appropriate health and wellness services. She is the founder of OT Bay area, WellWrx Consulting, and DisruptOT.