Black History Month - contributions to mental health

Throughout Black History Month, our social media has focused on highlighting the contributions of Black pioneers in mental health.

Bebe Moore Campbell was an American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate who worked hard to shed light on the mental health needs of the Black community. She founded NAMI and congress formally recognized Bebe More Campbell Mental Health Awareness Month to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness.

Dr. Mamie Philipps Clark and Dr. Kenneth Clark were the first African-Americans to obtain their doctoral degrees in psychology from Columbia University. The Clarks opened their own agency in 1946 offering psychological and casework services to families in the Harlem area. Along with serving their communities, the Clarks were influential to the Civil Rights movement and their expertise alled them to testify as expert witnesses in several school desegregation cases.

Francis Sumner, PhD, is the first African American to receive a PhD degree in psychology. He focused on understanding racial bias and supporting educational justice. Dr. Sumner is also credited as one of the founders of the psychology department at Howard University.