By Jaelon Jackson
School of Social Work
From left: Associate Professor of Practice, Kiva Harper and
Assistant Professor of Practice, Kelli Rogers
This July, mental health advocates across the country are observing BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to address the ongoing disparities Black, Indigenous and other people of color face when it comes to emotional well-being, access to care and trust in mental health systems.
For Dr. Kelli Rogers, assistant professor of practice at The University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work, the mental health conversation must begin with the systems that shape people’s daily lives.
“Systemic inequality isn’t just a barrier — it’s a burden Black and brown communities have been carrying for generations,” she said. “These injustices don’t just shape our environment. They take root in our minds, our bodies and our everyday lives.”
Rogers points to underfunded schools, limited access to quality health care, economic instability and overrepresentation in the child welfare and criminal justice systems as compounding factors that weigh heavily on the mental health of marginalized communities.
Rogers also knows the stigma that often comes with mental health challenges in communities of color. After the birth of her daughter, she silently struggled with postpartum depression.
“I knew what was happening,” she said. “But I was raised to believe that strength meant endurance, that prayer was the answer and that naming my pain was somehow giving up or giving in.”
Despite her education and training as a mental health professional, she hesitated to seek help. That experience, she said, reflects the reality many others face. “If I struggled to speak up with all my access and awareness, imagine what it’s like for someone who doesn’t have the language or support.”
Kiva Harper, associate professor of practice at UTA, shares that concern. With more than two decades of experience in clinical and community practice, Harper said many BIPOC clients don’t see themselves reflected in the systems meant to support them — and that disconnect fuels mistrust.
“Cultural competence suggests that you’ve mastered understanding someone’s identity,” Harper said. “But cultural humility means you’re always learning. It means showing up with curiosity, respect and a willingness to listen deeply.”
Harper said providers must consider the historical and cultural context that shapes a person’s experience, especially when diagnosing and treating mental illness. “We often ask ‘What’s wrong with you?’ instead of ‘What happened to you?’ That shift is essential. It moves us from blame to understanding.”
Both professors agree that more culturally responsive care starts with acknowledging bias in traditional practices. Rogers noted that Black teens are disproportionately labeled with oppositional defiant disorder, while Latino families are often misunderstood for their collectivist values.
“We need to stop pathologizing survival,” Harper said. “We need providers who understand that not every expression of emotion, grief or behavior fits into a Western framework — and that’s okay.”
Representation is key to building trust, Rogers said and that goes beyond race or ethnicity.
“It’s not just about what a provider looks like — it’s about what they understand,” Rogers said. “When clients see someone who shares their cultural framework or who takes the time to learn it, there’s often a sigh of relief before the first question is even asked.”
Rogers said her own decision to enter the field came from a desire to be the person she needed growing up — someone who could see her, not just serve her.
According to the American Psychological Association, only about 14% of psychologists in the U.S. identify as people of color. Harper said that number must grow, but she also believes every practitioner, regardless of background, has a role to play in creating more equitable systems.
“We need more Black and brown providers — absolutely,” Harper said. “But we also need every clinician to take responsibility for understanding their clients’ cultural realities. That means translating services into trusted community spaces, honoring faith and storytelling as forms of resilience and recognizing that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all.”
As the country continues to navigate overlapping public health, racial justice and economic challenges, both professors hope this year’s BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month will move beyond symbolic gestures and into lasting action.
“Awareness without action is empty,” Rogers said. “Our communities deserve spaces that honor our stories and recognize our humanity.” Harper added, “Social workers understand systems, we understand people and we have an ethical responsibility to make sure both work better for everyone. Our communities deserve to be seen, heard and healed — not someday, but now.”