Pittsburgh – On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania will host its second annual Black Mental Health Summit at Hosanna House from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event, which is being held during Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, will address the unique challenges that members of Pittsburgh’s Black community are facing, how stigma can be a barrier to seeking treatment, and the obstacles experienced when getting help. 

“For Black Americans, historical trauma, discrimination, community violence, and economic insecurity all impact mental health,” said Christine Michaels, CEO of NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania. “The goal of this summit is to have a conversation about how those issues intersect and determine how we can provide the most effective resources and support.” 

During the summit, various community stakeholders will discuss what mental health means to each of them, the challenges and factors that must be considered, and what we can do collectively to support our communities. This year’s event will have a strong focus on trauma, including the many sources of trauma in the Black community and the long-lasting effect it can have on mental health. 

“People don’t always associate trauma with mental health conditions, but it can play a major role,” said Michaels. “The more we talk about it, the more we normalize it.” 

The summit will feature personal stories from members of the Houze of Waxx, a community mental health advocacy organization that brings awareness to the mental health crisis by way of music, music collecting, and programming. There will also be a NAMI Sharing Hope community discussion that will use videos to guide the conversation. 

There is no fee to register, but registration is required to attend. The Hosanna House is located at 807 Wallace Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Learn more at www.namikeystonepa.org/education/conferences/black-mental-health-summit.

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