Ah, the joys of summer: The withering heat and school vacations, when your kids give you minute-to-minute updates on their boredom levels. Isn’t summer supposed to be fun and relaxing? If you’ve got summer depression, it isn’t. The warmth, relaxation and flexibility that the summer months bring can be exciting for vacations and sunshine, but for some, summer months can have the potential to trigger feelings of being overwhelmed and losing control. Especially hard is that you feel like you’re supposed to be having a great time. Everyone else seems so happy splashing in the water and sweating in their lawn chairs. So why can’t you? And more importantly, what can you do to make this summer easier? Here’s what you need to know about summer depression.

During the month of June, we celebrate several awareness events, including Juneteenth, Pride Month, PTSD Awareness Month, and Men's Health Month. In 1970, New York City held its first Pride march, one year after the Stonewall Uprising. Since then, we recognize June as Pride Month, to promote the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. The month of June is also recognized as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness month, to bring attention to a mental health condition that affects 7 to 8 out of every 100 people who have experienced, or witnesses, a traumatic event.

In honor of Juneteenth: Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is observed on the anniversary of June 19, 1865. It marks the date when the news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Texas, nearly 3 years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the document. The Juneteenth holiday represents a time to commemorate the day while reflecting on the shared history and tradition.

Resources for the African American Community:

• Read more about the history of Juneteenth from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Resources for Providers:

• African American Behavioral Health Center of Excellence is working to transform behavioral health services for African Americans through collaboration, training, and technical assistance.

• Racial Equity and Cultural Diversity products and resources from across the MHTTC Network.

In celebration of Pride Month: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+*) community represents a diverse range of identities and expressions of gender and sexual orientation. While belonging to the LGBTQ+ community can be a source of strength it also brings unique challenges that can impact one's mental health. Recent research suggests that members of the LGBTQ+ community may be twice as likely to experience a mental health condition compared to heterosexual adults. Similarly, transgender individuals, compared with cisgender individuals, may be four times more likely to experience a mental health condition.

Resources for the LGBTQ+ Community:

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

• National Center for Transgender Equality

• LGBT National Hotline and LGBT National Youth Talk-line Resources for Providers

• Check out events and resources sponsored by the MHTTC Network.

• Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity offers providers resources to improve services for LGBTQ+ people in their care.

• SAMHSA's LGBT Training Curricula for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Practitioners provides training for providers looking to care for the LGBTQ+ population.

In recognition of PTSD Awareness Month: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects about 12 million adults every year. Many associate this condition with the experiences of soldiers but it affects many more Americans who have witnessed or experienced life-threatening and/or traumatic events. June 27th is recognized as PTSD Screening Day. 

Resources for the Community:

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD provides information on PTSD in veterans and ways to locate a mental health provider.

• Veterans Crisis Line is a confidential resource available to veterans and military families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Resources for Providers

• National Institute of Mental Health provides an overview of PTSD symptoms, risk factors and treatments.

• SAMHSA's National Center for Trauma Informed Care provides information on shifting to a trauma-informed paradigm, including available interventions and referral resources.

I often design my show topics around popular issues that I see amongst my clients. Lately, I have seen a rise in black female clients who come to me reporting feeling devalued, undermined, treated with less respect, less job satisfaction due to bias and microaggressions. These experiences are leading my clients to feel more symptoms of psychological distress, anxiety and depression. There’s no denying the fact that, no matter your racial identity, being a woman in the workplace is tough. However, being a Black woman in the workplace is even tougher. Why? Because not only are they subjected to gender-driven microaggressions, they’re also being subjected to racial ones from - and here’s the crucial part - both men and women. Understanding black women’s double minority status at work is a necessary part of building inclusive and equitable workplaces.

Today, I am joined by Dr. Michelle Tait-Allen, a diversity, equity, and inclusion professional with over 10 years of experience in corporate and higher education. She is the owner of The Griot Collective which is a consulting firm that provides training on cultural diversity, unconscious bias, and more! She is also a DJ and one half of the Facts and Feelings Happy Hour podcast! In our conversation, we will discuss:

• Stereotyping and Unconscious Bias

• The history/examples of the origins of hate/disdain of Black Women

• Black Women and White Women in the workplace

• How do Black Women thrive in these environments?

Dr. Tait-Allen’s social media handles: @FiyaAngelou-twitter @ffhhpodcast Email: Info@TheGriotCollective.com

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