 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 in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder for racial and ethnic minority groups to access mental health and substance use treatment services. Throughout the month, the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) will focus on promoting tools and resources addressing the stigma about mental health among racial and ethnic minority populations. OMH encourages state, tribal, and local leaders, community-based organizations, faith leaders, healthcare providers, and individuals to educate their communities about mental health stigma. Visit the OMH National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month webpage for shareable social media messages, downloadable graphics, mental health resources, webinar recordings, our free and accredited behavioral health e-learning program, and our Behavioral Health Implementation Guide. |  Beginning July 16, 988 will become the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Lifeline will provide compassionate, accessible care and support via phone, text, or online chat to anyone experiencing mental health-related distress. You can use 988 if you have thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crises, or any other kind of emotional distress. You can also dial 988 if you are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. Additionally, many women feel overwhelmed, sad, or anxious during their pregnancy and even after the baby is born. For some women, these emotions may stay for months. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)'s new National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides real-time emotional support, encouragement, information, and referrals. Pregnant and postpartum women can call or text 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746) to get the help and resources they need when they need it. |  July 18-22 is National Youth Sports Week, a time to showcase how communities can promote healthy lifestyles for children and families through sports. According to the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)'s National Youth Sports Strategy, while 58 percent of youth, ages 6 to 17 years, participated in sports, these rates are lower among racial and ethnic minorities, girls, LGBTQ+ youth, youth living with a disability, and youth from lower-income households. Sports help kids build confidence and grow into healthy, active adults. Learn how organizations, communities, and policymakers can use the National Youth Sports Strategy to support youth sports, including inclusive programs for kids with physical or developmental disabilities. Want to help kids stick with sports? Prioritize fun and physical activity over competition in youth sports programs. ODPHP's Move Your Way campaign offers tools, videos, and fact sheets that give parents tips on how youth sports can help kids become active and build essential life skills. Resources are available in English and Spanish. |  World Hepatitis Day is recognized annually on July 28. It is an opportunity to educate people about the burdens of hepatitis infections and the actions people can take to prevent them. Viral hepatitis—hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E—affect millions of people worldwide, causing both acute and chronic liver disease. According to the CDC, while Asian Americans comprise six percent of the U.S. population, they account for more than 60 percent of Americans living with hepatitis B. Additionally, data from the CDC Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report shows that rates of hepatitis A and hepatitis C have increased for all racial and ethnic minority populations from 2018 to 2019. Visit the CDC's Get Tested tool to find hepatitis testing locations near you, and visit the CDC website to learn about available vaccines against hepatitis A and hepatitis B, as well as patient education materials, campaigns, and other resources on hepatitis infections. |  In observance of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, the OMH Knowledge Center is featuring a collection of resources and publications on various mental health topics impacting racial and ethnic minorities. Many of these resources are available for free. To view this collection in the online catalog, click here. | |
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