Black Mental Health Matters

Black Mental Health Matters

Black Mental Health Matters is an event for Black/Black identifying students focused on the importance of mental health in ALANA communities, the impact of racism on individual mental health, as well as an opportunity to provide information and resources available at RIT’s Counseling and Psychological Services. MCAS and HEOP have partnered with Counseling and Psychological Services and Health Promotion to bring a series of meaningful opportunities to honor, support, and explore the mental health of our Black/Black identifying students at RIT. 

Events

For each event attended you will be entered to win a prize giveaway – be sure to check into events for a chance to win.

Mental Health Support at RIT

Counseling and Psychological Services is aware that for many communities, there are barriers that exist related to accessing mental health services. We are committed to continuously working toward accessible, equitable, and inclusive services for our students.

Did you know that we have a counselor embedded at the Multicultural Center for Academic Success to support our ALANA students? You can meet with a counselor in a space that is convenient and familiar to you. If you or a friend is struggling, we hope you reach out.

Counseling and Psychological Services offers short-term, goal-focused individual therapy, group therapy, crisis support, and psychiatric services in an open, safe, and confidential environment.

  • To schedule an appointment, contact the office at 585-475-2261 or send a secure message on the RIT Wellness Portal and select “Counseling Services – for General Questions.”
  • If you are in need of support after business hours, you can call the 24-hour mental health line at 1-855-436-1245, or contact Public Safety by calling 585-475-3333 or texting 585-205-8333.
     

Workshops and Outreach Groups
In addition to mental health services, Counseling and Psychological Services offers workshops and outreach groups throughout the semester to provide additional support to RIT students. Workshops and outreach groups are not a psychotherapy service, and instead are supportive and educational opportunities for connection.

This semester, the following outreach groups are being offered for ALANA/BIPOC peer-to-peer support:

  • HisStory: Cultural Exploration and Personal Empowerment Workshop
  • Real Talk
     

Learn more about Workshops and Outreach Groups

  • National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
  • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
  • Text HOME to 741741
  • Lifeline/Mobile Crisis: call 211
  • Emergency: 911

Additional Resources

  • Becoming – Michelle Obama
  • Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life – Lisa Orbé-Austin, PhD and Richard Orbé-Austin, PhD
  • Your Unstoppable Greatness: Break Free from Impostor Syndrome, Cultivate Your Agency, and Achieve Your Ultimate Career Goals - Lisa Orbé-Austin, PhD and Richard Orbé-Austin, PhD
  • The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health: Navigate an Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness, and Get the Help You Deserve – Rheeda Walker, PhD
  • Black Mental Health Matters – Aaren Snyder, LMFT
  • The Black Mental Health Workbook: Break the Stigma, Find Space for Reflection, and Reclaim Self-Care – Jasmine Lamitte, LCSW
  • Emotional Self Care for Black Women -  B. True
  • Finding Me - Viola Davis
  • What Happened to You? - Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry
  • 365 Days of Affirmations for Black Women - Alexandra Adams
  • Positive Affirmations for Black Men - Alexandra Adams
  • I Almost Forgot About You - Terry McMillian
  • Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man - Emmanual Acho
  • Black Girls Must Die Exhausted - Jayne Allen
  • Black Fatigue - Mary-Frances Winters
  • Bipolar Faith - Monica A. Coleman
  • I'm Telling The Truth, But I'm Lying - Bassey Ikpi
  • Heavy - Kiese Laymon
  • The Mother of Black Hollywood - Jenifer Lewis
  • The Color of Hope - Iresha Picot
  • Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching - Mychal Denzel Smith
  • Black Pain - Terrie Williams
  • Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome - Joy DeGruy
  • The State of Black Girls - Marline Francois-Madden
  • The Self-Love Playbook
  • The Self-Love Fix
  • Black Hair in the Big Leagues
  • The Dope Black Therapist
  • Black Girls Have Anxiety Too
  • Therapy for Black Girls (The Podcast)
  • Black Mental Health Podcast
  • Black Girls Heal
  • What She Grows Through
  • Cultivating H.E.R Space
  • Man to Man
  • Checking in with Michelle Williams
  • Express Yourself Black Man
  • Black Men's Mental Health Podcast
  • Black Mental Health Matters with Dr. Kerry-Ann
  • Affirmations for Black Girls
  • Alishia McCullough, LCMHC
  • Donna Oriowo, Ph.D
  • Jennifer Mullan, Psy. D
  • Jessica Clemons, M.D
  • Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D
  • Mariel Buque, Ph.D
  • Nedra Glover Tawwab
  • Thema Bryant-Davis, Ph.D