July marks Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

DELMARVA – July is the start of the minority mental health awareness month, and there are plenty of options to make sure you keep your mental health in check.

According to statistics, suicide is the third leading cause of death for Black males between the ages of 15 and 24. Fenix Youth Project board member Jelisa Payton says different social ethnic groups need to have more options for vulnerability.

“We need to create more safe spaces for them, because they have a lot of pseudo pressures that are on their shoulders as well, and we need to have safe spaces for them to be open and vulnerable,” said Payton.

Mind Map Wellness CEO Ian Bolland said that mental health wellness can be given through family genetics and biology. “It’s kind of similar to alcoholism where you might be genetically predisposed to it,” he said.

Bolland added that cultures can play a part in mental health, as some families prefer to keep it in the family and forego the stigma attached to mental health.

Bolland said he always advises his clients to go outside and get off of social media. “That being said, we might be using that as a crutch, and you know not going outside as much, so I’m a big proponent of getting outside, getting in nature,” he said.

If you would like to set up an appointment for help, Fenix Youth is offering free counseling sessions for support at 443-736-7028.

You can also make appointments at Ian Bolland’s practice, he is accepting new clients. You can get in touch with Bolland for an appointment by clicking here.