Black Mental Health Matters

Black Mental Health Matters

Black Mental Health Matters provides a safe space for open dialogue and shared experiences, to begin to break down the barriers surrounding mental health in the Black community.

Event Details

Thursday, May 2
12-4 p.m.
Gordon Field House & Hale-Andrews Student Life Center Upper Lobby

Join us for free food, games, and giveaways as we work toward fostering a sense of unity and community with an emphasis on building community, coming together, and mental health. Come take a break during finals week and participate in the following fun activities with our RIT community:

  • Can Jam
  • Corn hole
  • Spike Ball
  • Board games
  • Words of Encouragement Wall
  • Dream Board
  • Art booth
  • And more…!


Learn more about Black Mental Health Matters

Counseling and Psychological Services would like to thank and honor our campus partners in Multicultural Center for Academic Success (MCAS), Health Promotion, and Campus Life, who dedicated their time and resources to supporting our Black student community in promoting mental health! We are grateful to have these voices at the table to advocate for our Black students and the invested value in creating a community that cares about and prioritizes mental health.

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 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 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.

*When scheduling an initial appointment with Counseling and Psychological Services, be sure to share any therapist preferences you may have on the initial scheduling form.

In addition to mental health services offered at Counseling and Psychological Services, there are a variety of other resources to support ALANA/BIPOC student mental and emotional wellbeing throughout the academic year. The resources below offer a safe space for reflection, support, and community building around shared experiences within ALANA/BIPOC communities.

  • HisStory: Cultural Exploration and Personal Empowerment Workshop

    This semi-structured group approaches growth and healing from the basic premise that life is our greatest teacher, and invites men of color (MOC) to explore personal development as an adjunct to their academic pursuits. 

    Students will focus on the exploration of personal and cultural history, evaluating and restructuring belief systems, and the pursuit of personal power. They will learn to draw valuable lessons from their diverse experiences as college students and work to integrate those lessons into their way of life—reshaping their narratives to reflect empowerment and success. View a full list of dates in CampusGroups

  • EmpowHer: A Space for Black Women Students at RIT
    Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to join Counseling and Psychological Services therapists, Patrice Anderson, LMHC, Tiarra Mitchell, Psy.D., Shantél Richardson, LMHC, and staff member, Gena Willis from DDI/MCAS for this weekly gathering aimed to give RIT Students a safe space to process feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Sessions will include topics and crafts regarding self-love, painting, vision boards, games, and more! View a full list of dates in CampusGroups
     
  • Real Talk

    Fridays, 4-5:30 p.m.
    Wallace 1470
    Real Talk provides an authentic space for BIPOC students. Join us every Friday for discussions on current trends and news, social media, hot topics, and our personal stories in and out of RIT!

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