Alyssa Torres
Mental Health America
This story was first published on May 4, 2022.
We must never forget the pioneers who built the foundation for today’s mental health culture. One of those pioneers was Bebe Moore Campbell, who saw injustice and took action. She was a truth-teller, an advocate, a mother, an author, a daughter, a pioneer, a teacher, and a friend. But most importantly, Bebe was a fighter. She fought for equitable mental health care, especially for the Black and African-American community. She fought to ensure that her loved ones, or the loved ones of others, were not denied the support they deserved. She was intentional. She never shied away from the truth that people deserve to thrive, even when they’re sick, even when their brains resist them.
And thanks to former Congressman Albert Wynn and his network of friends, on June 2, 2008, a bipartisan and bicameral Congress officially recognized July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a month that raises awareness of the experiences and unique struggles of minority communities interacting with the U.S. mental health system. Bebe’s legacy continues to inspire a national movement for equality, inclusion, and moving the mental health needs of people of color out of the criminal justice system and into a health justice ecosystem based on treatment, empathy, and cultural humility.
Bebe has used storytelling as her voice, ensuring that often ignored stories are at the center of her work. The bestselling author of books such as Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine, Singing in the Comeback Choir, What You Owe Me, and Brothers and Sisters, Bebe has received many prestigious awards for her work focusing on racism and mental health. Outside of her writing, she has spoken out as a commentator on NPR about the stigma of mental health and the intersections of being a black woman in America.
She also developed her community outreach, co-founding the National Alliance on Mental Illness Inglewood in 2003, which later became NAMI Urban Los Angeles, a countywide chapter providing multicultural and multilingual education and resources to Black, Latino and Korean communities in Los Angeles County, including family members, peers and survivors seeking support.
Bebe Moore Campbell fought tirelessly for equitable mental health care until her death in 2006 at age 56. At that age, she left an indelible mark on this world, illuminating inspiring change and unwavering faith. There is no doubt that the national conversation about the mental health needs of traditionally marginalized communities would not be what it is today without her dedication and unwavering courage to challenge systems of care. We at Mental Health America are grateful for her tireless advocacy and fighting spirit that set countless people on the path to healing, hope, and mental health.
Alyssa Torres is director of mental health equity at Mental Health America.
