EBWH Resource Roundup: Mental Health Edition

Practical support for navigating mental health all year long

Jul 28, 2025

First, I have to give credit to

for including the EBWH Community in the Nope, That’s Not Normal, mid-month link round-up, which gave me the idea that we need a monthly round-up too! This is a shameless plug to check out us and other amazing creators on Substack.

And, an opportunity to acknowledge the importance of supporting our mental health.

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, so what better time than the midway point of the year to promote resources supporting mental health? Of course, focusing on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) doesn’t mean that other groups don’t struggle with mental health. The harsh reality is that there is so much stigma embedded in BIPOC communities around mental health that many don’t seek out the support that they need.

I remember when I first talked to my dad about therapy, he immediately accused me of trying to say that he was “crazy.” I quickly assured him that I wasn’t; however, his reaction did give me insight that I didn’t consider before - not every person is going to be open to every mental health tool.

That’s why the resources I’m sharing today are about giving you options to consider on your mental health journey. I recommend being personally focused on one, but not more than two, tools. Focusing on one tool helps you see what's working and what's not if you want to build a habit that supports your mental health.

That’s been a long intro, so let's move on to the roundup!

The resource for when you feel alone and need support: Helplines

When you need immediate assistance, do not dismiss the importance of having a helpline that you can quickly access. Even though I haven’t personally utilized one yet, I have had moments when I was close to calling. Knowing that I can dial 988 in the U.S. whenever I need support is a privilege I don’t ignore. Wherever you are in the world, I recommend that you have your local, regional, or country's mental health number in your contacts. You never know when you’ll need it; the last thing you want to do during a crisis is search for a number to call for help.

The resource for when you need to reconnect to yourself: Insight Timer

Guided meditation is a great place to start when you struggle with quieting your mind and anxious thoughts. I appreciate the guided meditations on the Insight Timer app because they help me practice mindfulness in short bursts, which I can fit into my often crammed schedule. However, there are many ways to meditate, so I recommend finding the practice you can consistently do.

The resource when you need to get the thoughts out of your head: Journaling

Journaling is a skill that can be truly beneficial, as it allows you to put the thoughts swirling around your head down on paper or in a digital app. This is important because we’re often good at holding onto negative thoughts about ourselves and others that aren’t necessarily true. The only precaution I recommend is that if you’re concerned about someone coming across your journal (intentionally or unintentionally), you might lean toward a digital app like the 5-Minute Journal, where you can keep your private thoughts locked away.

The resource for letting go of destructive thoughts: Get Out of Your Head

Breaking the habits of toxic thoughts isn’t easy. However, Jennie Allen’s book, Get Out of Your Head, offers a helpful perspective and tangible actions to escape the downward spiral. As someone who has struggled with negative thoughts throughout my life, this book helped me find some much-needed grace and tools to get out of my head. If you’re looking to be equipped with tools to support your mental health, this is one book that I highly recommend.

The resource for when you need a nonjudgmental ear: Therapy

Finding a good therapist is like finding good undergarments - you never want to let them go. Even though the idea of therapy is often stigmatized among BIPOC communities, it’s a tool that can significantly support our mental health. As much as our family and friends might want to help us, they’re often too close to the situation (or people involved) to be objective. A great (licensed) therapist gives you a trained individual with the right tools and perspective to support your mental health.

The resource for when you need a break on a budget: Staycation

My mother was the queen of “staycations,” which for us consisted of booking a hotel for the weekend, a few cities away from our house. We would watch TV, I’d swim in the hotel pool, and she’d get some much-needed sleep. During my adult years, I have continued booking staycations as a way to take mental health breaks in between my vacations. Now with websites like Booking or Airbnb, you can find great deals even on a tight budget. Whether it's a weekend or a day trip, don’t dismiss the power of recharging your mental batteries by changing your environment.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our Mental Health Edition of the EBWH Resource Roundup. If you have additional mental health resources you want to share with the community, please leave a comment below.