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In order to highlight pockets of excellence across the country, the NNED selects a partner organization to highlight once a month. Mazzoni Center has been selected as the Partner of the Month for June in celebration of Pride Month.

Mazzoni Center is Philadelphia’s home for LGBTQ+ health and wellness. The Center believes that all people deserve access to high-quality, affirming health care in an environment where they feel respected and their needs are understood.

Some of the programs and services that are currently offered:

• Behavioral Health Therapy and Recovery
• Gender Affirming Care
• Substance Use Treatment
• Legal Services
• HIV Prevention and Care

Learn more about Mazzoni Center and its mission to provide quality comprehensive health and wellness services in an LGBTQ-focused environment, while preserving the dignity and improving the quality of life of the individuals they serve.

View a list of previous NNED Partners of the Month.

Even in discussions about the effects of healthcare inequity and inequality on Black communities, the topic of Black mental health is often overlooked. Not only is it overlooked, but when Black folks do speak up and seek help, there are significant barriers that prevent them from accessing the mental health care they need.

So, how can we bring more awareness to something so vital to the health and happiness of Black communities in this country and around the world? And what can we do to change the narrative around Black mental health — to identify those barriers and promote equity in mental health care for people everywhere?

Our “health” encompasses everything about us — from the well-being of our bodies to our emotional state and so much more. But even though we often view health through a primarily physical lens, the reality is that our mental health is just as integral to our overall sense of wellness.

“Mental health is an incredibly important factor for a fulfilling life. And having good mental health means having a better quality of life and satisfaction with your overall being,” Dr. Francesca K. Owoo, LCPC, LMHC, a licensed therapist who specializes in helping BIPOC couples and families navigate chronic illness, tells Healthline.

“Mental well-being should always be prioritized to ensure that everyone can experience stability and wellness in their lives,” Owoo says.

But in BIPOC communities in the United States, especially in Black communities, factors like racism, oppression, and trauma can severely affect a person’s mental well-being and contribute to huge disparities in mental illness rates.

Read more at Healthline.com.

Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr., undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, signed a policy today to initiate implementation of the Brandon Act and improve the process for service members seeking mental health support. The Brandon Act aims at improving the referral process for service members seeking a mental health evaluation and allowing them to seek help confidentially, Cisneros said.

The Brandon Act is named after Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Caserta who died by suicide in 2018. The legislation was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Dec. 27, 2021, as part of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.

“Our greatest strength is our people, and we are committed to their well-being,” Cisneros said. “Therefore, I firmly believe that seeking mental health treatment is a sign of strength and resilience. This policy, spurred by the passage of the Brandon Act, is an important step in ensuring that our service members are able to seek mental health treatment when and how they need it. We honor Petty Officer Brandon Caserta’s memory by ensuring that our military services have procedures and processes in place that allow service members to seek help confidentially, for any reason, at any time and in any environment, and aim to reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health care.”

Implementation of the policy will occur in two phases. In phase one, which should be implemented within 45 days, the services will establish procedures to implement the policy for service members on active duty. In phase two, the services will establish procedures to implement the policy for service members not serving on active duty, he said.

For the Brandon Act to have its intended impact, it’s important that commanding officers and supervisors are trained on the process to expedite mental health referrals so that help is provided when it’s most needed, Lester Martinez-Lopez, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said. Recognizing the signs of mental health issues and knowing the available resources to offer is also key, he said.

Read more at Defense.gov.

Young people who identify as LGBTQ+ were less likely to report symptoms of depression when they had general support from their parents, according to a 2023 study.

Previous research has examined parental support directly tied to a person’s LGBTQ+ identity, but the study, which was published by the University of Texas at Austin researchers in the Child Development journal, asked LGBTQ+ youth to answer how often their parents did things like say how proud they were of them or assisted them with activities.

Participants were also asked if their parents exhibited any psychologically controlling behavior, such as asserting their beliefs as the correct ones, whether their caregivers were aware of their LGBTQ+ identity, and what kind of thoughts and feelings they had been having in the previous two weeks.

“Our research showed that those who felt greater social support from parents tended to have fewer depressive symptoms, whereas those who reported greater psychological control from parents had more depressive symptoms,” said Amy McCurdy, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Texas at Austin. “For youth whose parents did not know their LGBTQ identities, having a combination of high psychological control and high social support from parents was linked with greater depressive symptoms.”

Read more at NPR.org.

Among minority groups are immigrant populations from various backgrounds. The immigrant narrative is complex, and there is a need for quality mental health care. There is also the issue of addressing their willingness to access treatment when needed. Gaining access to mental health services can be difficult, and for minorities, that access can be even more challenging.

A 2019 study reported that minorities experience a higher burden of mental illness but have less access to, and lower quality, treatments. While acceptance of mental health needs is becoming more commonplace, challenges remain among minority groups.

Compared to white people, minorities have less access to resources because of their background and identity. They also generally receive a delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment, and this concern is likely a result of the following factors: awareness, deterioration of trust, cultural beliefs, lack of access, and stigma.

For Alejandro Perez, a Dominican immigrant in New Jersey, therapy seemed strange and complicated.

“Why would I talk to a stranger about my problems? They don’t know about my life. How will they understand what I’m truly going through?” he said.

According to studies, most patients are open to receiving advice on behavior change from their general practitioner — someone they usually see, trust and are comfortable with. That is especially true if the advice is personally tailored and relevant to their illness. That’s why providers need to understand mental health and its nuances, as it can help reduce negative bias and feelings of shame.

Among minority groups, these experiences are significantly pronounced and can affect access to mental health services like therapy and medication. But ultimately, comfort, trust and a good rapport are essential for how advice and help are given and received.

Read more at NextAvenue.org.

Research will be conducted on the epidemiology and prevalence of mental illness in Samoa says the head of the Mental Health Unit at the Moto’otua Tupua Meaole’s Hospital, Seiulialii Dr George Tuitama.

Seiulialii said the research will also be able to paint a picture on how data on the state of mental health in the country will be able to combat the prevalence of violence in the community and provide remedies for school brawls as well.

“Yes of course it is important to teach and talk about mental health, mainly self-control, anger management and identifying contributing factors, like existing mental problems, stressful lives at home and in communities,” Seiuliali’i said.

As an advocate for mental health awareness, Seiulialii said that it was important to work together with other institutions with similar portfolios.

“I am working with organizations like the Salvation Army too. They can deal with some of the patients that I receive, as they have a pretty organised structure of mental practitioners,” he said.

In an earlier interview with Seiulialii he made reference to young boys and girls not being able to express themselves freely. He said much of this had to do with culture.

He said there was a very important need to provide an avenue for young people to express themselves and share their thoughts. He said this was a good practice and would help in dealing with the mental health of the young and keep them away from substance abuse and suicide.

Read more at SamoaObserver.ws.