We are committed to supporting the mental well-being of Black women, youth, families and communities, statewide. Through programming and collaborations, we work to effectively implement policies, resources and systems to support this community's mental wellness. We uplift Black women's and girls' mental wellness, voices and stories through campaigns and events. Through our Sisters Mentally Mobilized (SMM) project we train Black women across the state to become mental health community advocates and launch mental health-focused Sister Circles in the communities where Black women live, work, play, and pray.
We uplift Black women's and girls' mental wellness, voices and stories through campaigns and events. Through our Sisters Mentally Mobilized (SMM) project we train Black women across the state to become mental health community advocates and launch mental health-focused Sister Circles in the communities where Black women live, work, play, and pray.
We uplift Black women's and girls' mental wellness, voices and stories through campaigns and events. Through our Sisters Mentally Mobilized (SMM) project we train Black women across the state to become mental health community advocates and launch mental health-focused Sister Circles in the communities where Black women live, work, play, and pray.
Sisters Mentally Mobilized
Sisters Mentally Mobilized (SMM) is a community defined intervention of California Black Women's Health Project designed to prevent and decrease mental health stigma, anxiety, and isolation in Black women. SMM combines mental health-focused advocate training (SMM-Advocate Training Program), and social support networks (SMM-Sister Circles) to build the capacity of Black women to speak to, and address mental health conditions and barriers in their lives and communities.
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Black Women Speak Recovery | HEAR US Project
Sacramento Engagement Project
need info & development of new webpage with information & past events
Mindful Beauty
We are partnering with Charles R. Drew University and Black Beauty Shop Health Foundation, to provide South Los Angeles Black women with a depression-reduction program that trains Black hairstylists to spot signs of depression in their clients and refer them to local treatment and support services as appropriate.
Sister circles “are support groups that build upon existing friendships, fictive kin networks, and the sense of community found among African-American females. Originally embedded in the Black club movement sister circles have been a vital part of Black female life for the last 150 years. Sister circles exist directly in the community and within organizations that are components of women’s lives…”
Source: Neal-Barnett, et al. Sister Circles as a Culturally Relevant Intervention for African-American Women. Clinical Psychology (New York). 2011 September; 18(3) 266-273”
Source: Neal-Barnett, et al. Sister Circles as a Culturally Relevant Intervention for African-American Women. Clinical Psychology (New York). 2011 September; 18(3) 266-273”
This work is important.
- A variety of circumstances put Black women at high risk for mental and emotional stress - economic insecurity, responsibilities of care-giving, neighborhood violence, lack of social support and physical illness or disability. many are plagued by tension, anxiety, worry and fear.
- Because of the powerful and complex links between the mind, emotions and body, chronic states of stress and anxiety can have dangerous and sometime fatal, health consequences. In addition, the daily struggles of coping with racism and sexism further exacerbate mental and emotional stress.
- Inter-generational trauma leading to internalized oppression; self-inflicted anger; self-hate; aggression; and the passing on of pain and stress from from grandparent, to parent, to grandchildren and beyond
- Stigma leading to shame; suspicion and paranoia; low seeking and utilization of mental health support and services; perpetual belief that depression only happens to Black women who are weak minded, troubled in spirit or have a lac of self-love; and a deep misconception that faith (spirituality) and mental health treatment are mutually exclusive
- Ongoing stress and abuse that is evidenced by high rates of anxiety, domestic violence (41% of Black women nationally experience interpersonal violence in their lifetime) and sexual abuse (an estimated 60% of Black girls nationally have experienced some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18.
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