Brother Be Well—Wellness for Boys and Men of Color
Mental Health California™ announces a new campaign, Brother Be Well—Wellness for Boys and Men of Color. This campaign serves boys (ages 13+) and men of color including African American, Native American, Latinx, and Asian and Pacific Islander American, and for those who identify as LGBTQIA+ within these communities. Brother Be Well addresses mental health and wellness through an innovative platform blending technology, education, awareness, and healing pathways. This project is considered a Promising Practice. Its overarching goals are to reduce disparities, remove stigma, heal trauma, and to end prolonged suffering. Click here to visit the Brother Be Well site.
need for the program
Considering the social determinants of health, boys and men of color experience disproportionate levels of misdiagnosed or undiagnosed mental illness, over-medication, and high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. They also experience pervasive exposure to discrimination, racism, oppression, and poverty. When experienced chronically, these events have a cumulative impact that can be fundamentally life-altering. Such traumas are directly related to chronic fear and anxiety, with serious long-term effects on health and other life outcomes. Yet to be fully developed is an understanding of the multiple ways in which repetitive and multigenerational exposure to violence, oppression, neglect, discrimination, criminalization, and poverty can impact individuals and entire communities. Because of these factors, we also address ACEs, toxic stress, trauma, secondary trauma, and pathways to healing integrated with Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Standards (CLAS). The signature goal of the program is to engage participants in their personal mental healthcare, creating awareness and utilization of clinical and holistic resources, interventions, and treatment suited to the individual. This program is funded by Sutter Health, Blue Shield of California, and the Sacramento County Department of Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services through the voter approved Proposition 63, Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). It is administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA).
partnerships
A partial list of partners includes the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color, Asian Pacific Community Counseling, Blue Shield of California, California Coalition for Youth, Capitol City Black Nurses Association, Sacramento County Division of Behavioral Health Services, Sacramento Naturopathic Medical Center, Samuel Merritt University, Sierra Health Foundation, Sutter Health, The HAWK Institute, and the UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities.
mental health for boys and men of color community forum
Our “Mental Health for Boys and Men of Color Community Forum” featured an opening address by Dr. Altha J. Stewart, former President of the American Psychiatric Association, coordinated by UC Davis Health. The event, hosted by The California Endowment, enlightened 150 attendees. The forum featured innovative behavioral health programs designed for boys and men of color, and a panel addressing the mental health needs of this population. For more details, please click here.
