We are aware of these truths:

1

Mental health, as a science, is relatively new.

It was discussed in salons in the mid-1700s in Europe, grew in awareness in the 1860s, and became more established in the early 20th century (1920s and 30s).

2

Mental health was never designed or formulated to and for Black and people of color.

During the time when mental health was emerging, Black people weren't seen as human, and consequently, mental health for White people wasn't intended to be used or applied to these peoples.

In and among many of our communities, mental health is still viewed as foreign, alien, unrepresentative or inclusive, and with significant suspicion.

3

We need to reconnect with, and incorporate ancestral and indigenous healing practices with Western psychological constructs to address mental health in our communities, to achieve a "whole person" type of evaluation, diagnosis and treatment;

For many Black and people of color, a gap exists in our cultural and social history, the forced diaspora with the sale, transport, enslavement, and the systematic removal/erasure of our beliefs, rites/rituals, and practices, which involve natural herbs/medicines, manifestations, meditation, drumming, dancing, and consulting with different non-Western/Christian belief systems.

4

that mental illness and health among our communities manifests differently.

We know training modules suggest that a White person experiencing oxygen deprivation would likely turn blue; often, we don’t know a Black or person of color’s skin complexion change when they are oxygen deprived.

So, too, mental health among Black and people of color, with the additional burden of contemporaneous and inter-generational trauma, presents, manifests or is demonstrated differently.