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    Moore Equity in Mental Health Initiative

    APA celebrates Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month each summer with a series of community-wide events focused on mental health equity for young people of color through education, outreach, and advocacy.

    In 2008, U.S. Congress dedicated the month of July as "Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month," focused on improving mental health services for people of color through education and addressing stigma.

    In honor of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, APA established the MOORE Equity in Mental Health Initiative. Through this initiative APA celebrates every summer with a series of community-wide events focused on promoting mental health equity for young people of color.

    Explore APA's MOORE Equity in Mental Health Activities and Events

    For more information or questions on any of APA's Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Month events, please email [email protected].

    • 5K: Run, Walk, & Roll

      5K: Run, Walk, & Roll

      Run, walk, and roll individually or with your community across the states and globally to raise awareness and combat mental health inequities facing young people of color.

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    • Community Fair

      Community Fair

      An event to provide Washington, D.C.-, Maryland- and Virginia-area community members with mental health information and resources, connect individuals to mental health services and organizations, and foster a day of family fun with games, music, prizes and more!

      Learn More
    • Youth Summit

      Youth Summit

      A day of programming to empower and center the voices of young people of color in Washington D.C., featuring speakers, workshops, and resources from adolescent-psychiatry experts.

      Learn More
    • Virtual Roundtables

      Virtual Roundtables

      Virtual conversations that give attendees the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of mental health issues spanning from athletes, advocacy, community-based interventions, and beyond.

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    • Community Grants

      Community Grants

      A program managed by APA & the APA Foundation that supports community organizations that have undertaken innovative awareness programs and/or are providing services to improve the mental health of young people of color.

      Learn More & Apply

    About Bebe Moore Campbell

    Bebe Moore Campbell was a mental health equity champion and New York Times bestselling author who tirelessly worked to bring public awareness to minority mental health.

    She was a founding member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Urban Los Angeles which aimed to create a safe space for Black people and other people of color to discuss mental health concerns.

    Campbell’s drive to bring awareness to mental health inequities in communities of color was driven by personal experiences with a family member. Two of her books Sometimes Mommy Gets Angry and 72 Hour Hold focus on understanding and addressing bipolar disorder and the relationships between parents and their children.

    In 2005, Bebe Moore Campbell and longtime-friend Linda Wharton Boyd, Ph.D., suggested dedicating a month that would educate and address mental health stigma and improve mental health services for people of color. Due to their hard work and dedication—and with the help of U.S. Representatives Albert Wynn and Diane Watson—a resolution was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2008 to establish July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (after Campbell passed in 2006).

    During this month, APA focuses on carrying on Bebe Moore Campbell's legacy by increasing awareness about mental illness in communities of color (particularly among young people), reducing stigma related to mental illness, and increasing access to mental health services and resources.

    To learn more about Bebe Moore Campbell and Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month watch our full interview with her good friend Linda Wharton Boyd, Ph.D. below:

    Bebe Moore Campbell headshot

    Dr. Linda Wharton Boyd Answers:

    • Can you share about the significance of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month?
    • Why was Bebe Moore Campbell so passionate about combatting stigma around mental health?
    • For families or individuals who have loved ones dealing with mental illness but are still dealing with stigma in their community, what advice would you give to them?
    • What advice would you give to young people of color for how they can reach out and make sure their voices are being heard about their mental health and well-being?
    • As a close friend of Bebe Moore Campbell, what do you think she would want us to know today as we continue to fight for mental health equity?

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