Rooted in Care - Honoring Mental Health, Identity, and Disability
July is more than the peak of summer heat and vacation season. It’s a month that holds space for complex truths and needed conversation, especially for those of us living at the intersections of race, mental health, and disability.
At Head/Heart Therapy, we don’t believe in siloed healing. Everything is connected. And this month, the calendar reminds us of that with three powerful observances:
Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Disability Pride Month
International Self-Care Day (July 24)
So let’s talk about what it means to hold all three at once.
Mental Health doesn’t happen in a vacuum – Minority Mental Health Awareness Month shines a light on the systemic barriers BIPOC communities face when accessing mental health care. From the lack of culturally responsive therapists to the weight of generational trauma, it’s not enough to just say, “get help.” We have to change what “help” looks like. Therapy isn't just about what happens in the room, it’s about who is in the room, what they bring, and how they're seen. Mental health care should affirm identity, not erase it.
Disability isn’t something to hide – Disability Pride Month invites us to celebrate the strength, creativity, and brilliance of the disability community. And that includes invisible disabilities: chronic pain, mental illness, neurodivergence, that often go unseen, dismissed, or misunderstood. Too many people are made to feel like their bodies or minds are “too much” or “not enough.” How do we continue to reject these narratives? You are not broken. You are not a burden. Your needs are not up for debate.
Self-Care isn’t a spa day, it’s survival - July 24 is International Self-Care Day, which sounds cute… until you realize how commercialized “self-care” has become. For folks navigating racism, ableism, and mental health stigma, self-care isn’t optional. It’s how we stay alive. It’s how we stay whole.
Sometimes self-care is rest. Sometimes it's saying no. Sometimes it’s taking your meds, rescheduling that thing, or unfollowing people who drain your spirit. Sometimes it’s calling your therapist. Or firing them and finding one who gets you. And sometimes? Self-care is community care, we are not meant to heal alone.
You deserve more than awareness, you deserve access. As we move through this month, let’s remember that awareness is only the beginning. True healing happens when we dismantle the systems that make people feel like they don’t belong; in healthcare, in their bodies, or in the world. Whether you’re BIPOC, disabled, neurodivergent, queer, or just tired of pretending to be okay, we see you. You’re not too much. You’re not alone. We all deserve care that honors all of who you are. This month — and every month — may we keep choosing care that’s rooted in liberation, not perfection.
