The President's Message 7/21/25

“You need so much more than mental health or “well-being” in this era of discrimination, invisibility, and psychological warfare. You need an impermeable web of protection for your mind.” ― Rheeda Walker

Mental health is often framed as an individual responsibility—something you manage with therapy, mindfulness, exercise, or positive thinking. While these tools are essential, for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), the equation isn’t that simple. As psychologist and researcher Rheeda Walker reminds us, well-being alone isn’t always enough when you're navigating a world that constantly questions your worth, erases your identity, or denies your lived experiences.

Mental illness in BIPOC communities doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It exists alongside racial trauma, systemic oppression, historical marginalization, and daily microaggressions. That’s why the path to healing for BIPOC individuals requires more than conventional self-care—it requires building what Walker calls “an impermeable web of protection.”

A web of protection isn’t just about long walks and journaling—it’s about cultivating a layered, resilient support system that shields your mental and emotional wellness from external harm. This web might include:

• Community Connection: Safe, affirming spaces where you don’t have to explain your identity, code-switch, or shrink yourself to fit in.

• Cultural Grounding: Embracing cultural practices, language, music, and spirituality that remind you who you are and where you come from.

• Professional Support: Working with therapists who understand racial trauma and use culturally relevant, affirming care models.

• Radical Rest: Reclaiming rest as a revolutionary act in a culture that praises overwork, especially for people of color.

• Mental Health Literacy: Educating yourself and others about symptoms, treatment options, and the impact of racism on mental wellness.

Each strand of this web helps reinforce the others. Together, they create a structure strong enough to support you when the world feels heavy and hostile.

It’s important to understand that building this web isn’t a luxury; it’s a form of survival. In an era where BIPOC individuals often face psychological warfare through media, politics, and systemic injustice, protecting your mind is essential. It’s not about being paranoid or closed off—it’s about being prepared, guarded, and intentional with your peace.

The good news? You don’t have to build this web alone. Community, culture, and connection are some of the most powerful tools BIPOC communities have always used to survive and thrive. The strength is already within the collective—it just needs to be named, nurtured, and shared.

BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month is a call to action. Let’s go beyond surface-level wellness and begin building deeper, stronger, and more resilient networks of protection. We deserve more than survival—we deserve peace, safety, and mental freedom.

Your mind is sacred. Protect it boldly.