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In keeping with the primary mission of the Black Mental Health Alliance, we are active, clear and resolute in our efforts to serve as a liaison between mental health providers and persons suffering from emotional distress or mental disorders through clinical service referrals and/or social support linkages. In addition we are constantly making strides to determine optimal measures to prevent or minimize the predisposing factors that may contribute to the stigma, misdiagnosis and inaccessibility of care that is so prevalent within the African American community.

Public Education: In addition to being a technical assistance and resource center for African Americans and other people of color with mental illnesses and their families, the Black Mental Health Alliance provides informational booklets, resource manuals, curricula resources, pamphlets and videos which are designed for use at the national, regional and local levels. The Black Mental Health Alliance has annotated bibliographies of resource and programs and can do a search for those interested in receiving specific information. We also publish Visions, a bi-annual newsletter, and have published Souls of Black Men, a fact sheet based on a group of African American men who met to share their thoughts and experiences with regard to mental health. Also available for purchase is the video Black and Blue.

Outreach partnerships: Through our partnerships with various National, State and community organizations we work together to inform the public about mental health disorders, reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness, and increase the public’s awareness of the importance of basic and clinical research in advancing knowledge of the brain and behavior.

Events: During May, which is mental health awareness month, the Black Mental Health Alliance sponsors an educational luncheon featuring a nationally known speaker who presents a topic of key interest related to African American Mental Health. The second annual lucheon speaker was Dr. William Lawson, Professor and Chairman Department of Psychiatry Howard University School of Medicine. All members recieve a special invitaion to the annual luncheon.

Advocacy: Each year the State and local governments convene for their legislative session and consider bills related to mental health issues and funding for mental health programs that impact citizens on all levels in our area. Membership will entitle you to up to date information on these bills through legislative alerts which will be posted on our website at www.blackmentalhealth.org and allow you to respond to them via links on our website.

It is the activism of mental health consumers, family members, and other concerned citizens that will change our nation’s attitude toward people with mental disorders and replace ignorance, abuse with proper treatment and compassion.

It is evident that we have serious challenges ahead, but this is also a time of opportunity. We hope you will join us as we continue to actively build partnerships with individuals, other community based and faith based organizations and treatment providers who share our commitment. Your membership in our organization is a commitment on your part to achieve optimal mental health services for African Americans and people of color in the State of Maryland.