Mental Health and Wellness Resources for the Black Community
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or 211 in Connecticut. Text CT to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line. In an emergency, call or text 911.
Mental Health Resources
211 of Connecticut
Search online or call 211 for assistance in finding mental health and substance use treatment services.
BEAM: Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective
BEAM’s mission is “to remove the barriers that Black people experience getting access to or staying connected with emotional health care and healing.” This is achieved through “healing justice based organizing, education, training, grantmaking and advocacy."
Black Therapists Rock
President and CEO Deran Young, LCSW, created Black Therapists Rock as she noticed a gap in mentorship, knowledge sharing and unity among helping professionals. She saw this as an opportunity to organize counseling professionals towards ACTION in decreasing the stigma and other barriers to psychological and social well being among African Americans and other vulnerable populations.Includes a therapist finder, a Facebook Group, and more.
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation
Founded by Taraji B. Henson in memory of her father, to “focus on eradicating the stigma around mental health issues in the African-American community.” The site includes a Directory of Mental Health Providers and Programs serving the African American Community.
CT BIPOC Mental Health & Wellness Initiative
This initiative was created so to provide a safe space to openly discuss the impact of this pandemic & Racial Trauma due to the open attack on Black America. These forums will allow you to openly vent as well as get supportive resources.
Dr. Joy DeGruy
Ms. DeGruy’s research focuses on the intersection of racism, trauma, violence and American chattel slavery. She has over thirty years of practical experience as a professional in the field of social work. She conducts workshops and trainings in the areas of intergenerational/historical trauma, mental health, social justice, improvement strategies and evidence based model development. Ms. DeGruy has published numerous refereed journal articles and book chapters and authored her seminal book entitled “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury & Healing.” She has also developed an assessment scale for measuring respect with regard to African American male youth.
The Steve Fund
The Steve Fund is the “nation’s only organization focused on supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. The Steve Fund works with colleges and universities, non-profits, researchers, mental health experts, families, and young people to promote programs and strategies that build understanding and assistance for the mental and emotional health of the nation’s young people of color.”
Therapy for Black Girls
Therapy for Black Girls is an “online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.” Content includes a therapist locator, a weekly podcast, a support community, and blog.
Connecticut Resources
AFCAMP
AFCAMP's mission is to "educate, empower and engage parents and community to improve quality of life for children with special needs and others at risk of education inequity or system involvement."
NAACP Connecticut
The NAACP's mission is to "secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons."
Urban League of Greater Hartford
The Urban League's mission is to "reduce economic disparities in our communities through programs, services and educational opportunities."
Professional Organizations
The Association of Black Psychologists
Greater Hartford Alliance of Black Social Workers
The National Association of Black Social Workers
The National Black Nurses Association
Black Men in Social Work
Black Men in Social Work is a private Facebook group for "Black Men who are social work students or social work practitioners. This is a safe and free space for you to be able to share ideas, opportunities, scholarship, network, and uplift one another."
