The mission of Be The Change Health is to expand access to mental health services for Black and Indigenous People of Color. The long-term, harmful impact of racism and racial trauma on the mental well-being of Black people is real and can no longer be ignored. There is a tremendous need in our Black communities for mental health support, and our goal is to continuously expand the scope of our work.

WHY WE EXIST

Mental health is one of many areas of medicine that has a long history of negatively affecting and downright misperceiving Black people. Research suggests that Black Americans are substantially more likely to be diagnosed as schizophrenic compared with white people. Recent studies have found that Black people may express depression differently than other populations, and that diagnostic methods should be made with cultural differences in mind.

Therapy is an essential part of strengthening mental health, however, it is not easily accessible for the majority of the Black Community. The costs of therapy typically make it out of reach for individuals that can substantially benefit from it. Additionally, the limited number of black and brown therapists available makes it hard to find a profession that the client can relate to. There are less than five percent of mental health professionals in the United States who identify as Black and less than ten percent who identify as Asian or Hispanic/Latino. These numbers indicate a limited number of therapists of color available to serve the black and brown communities. 

Our Goal

Drive awareness of both the lasting effects of racial trauma on our communities and the power of mental health care to address that trauma.

• Enable no-cost, no-stigma access to professional mental health care for Black communities.

• Provide a space for Black youth to express their thoughts and frustrations in a group setting. The goal will be to equip youth at a younger age to think about the importance of their mental health and how current experiences can impact their future. 

• Pay-fair wages to Black therapists to provide therapy sessions and therapeutic workshops to those most in need in Black communities.

There is a deep lack of therapists of color.
Only about Four percent of mental health professionals in the United States are Black; the figures are similar for Asian and Hispanic/Latino professionals.
Mental health is one of many areas of medicine that has a long history of negatively affecting and downright misperceiving people who look like me. Research suggests that Black Americans are substantially more likely to be diagnosed as schizophrenic compared with white people. Recent studies have found that Black people may express depression differently than other populations, and that diagnostic methods should be made with cultural differences in mind.