Statistics show people of all cultures experience mental health conditions at about the same rate; however, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), only 39% of Black Americans receive mental health services compared to 52% for non-hispanic whites. To help change that narrative and in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Reset and Heal, a local mental health consulting firm, hosted Winston-Salem’s first Black Mental Health Summit (BMHS) on May 17.
When The Chronicle spoke with Alexia Mitchell, owner and founder of Reset and Heal, a few months ago, she mentioned that the Black Mental Health Summit (BMHS) was aimed at dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health, encouraging open dialogue, and connecting individuals with resources and support. “We haven’t given ourselves permission to not be OK … I felt like we needed a space where we feel seen and heard by people who look like us,” Mitchell said.