Black Lives Matter. Black Mental Health Matters

To our Black students, faculty and staff. USU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) recognizes many of you are suffering from the painful effects of continuing violence against Black people and the systemic racism that pervades our society. USU CAPS condemns anti-Black violence, discrimination, and structural racism.

As mental health professionals, we realize that racial trauma and intergenerational trauma have profound effects on mental health and wellbeing. We hold space for any emotions you might be feeling from sadness and grief, hopelessness and fear, anger and rage, to hope and empowerment. We strive to be part of your healing process and affirm Black mental health matters. We stand with you in protesting against injustice, calling for peace, and fighting for liberation.

Racial Trauma

Mental Health America, Racial Trauma

Resources for mental health and support

USU Resources

• USU Inclusion Center
• USU Black Student Union
• Students of Color Support Group by Inclusion Center: Every other Monday, 6-7pm. Email Multicultural Program Coordinator Luis Rodriguez for the Zoom link.
• Anti-Racist Focus Group: Every other Monday, 6-7pm. Email Multicultural Program Coordinator Luis Rodriguez for the Zoom link.
• SAFEatUSU (Scholars of Anti-Racist Fellowship in Education at Utah State University): Meet once a month on Zoom. Contact Breanne Litts
• Heart2Heart training: Training to provide tools for students to respond to microaggressions
• Campus Climate Support Team: Provide support to individuals who experience bias, racism or microaggressions.

National Resources

• Racial Trauma Toolkit
• Liberate meditation (specifically for BIPOC individuals)
• Black Lives Matter meditations
• Self-care tips for Black people who are going through it right now (Vice article)
• 44 mental health resources for Black people trying to survive in this country
• Healing in the face of racial trauma
• Therapy for Black Girls
• Therapy for Black Men
• We’ll Rest When We’re Free (Spotify playlist)
• National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network
• Substance abuse recovery

CAPS Commitment to Action

• We take intentional steps to examine how White supremacy influences our system in order to create an inclusive counseling center for our students, staff, and trainees.
• We maintain regularly scheduled, focused dialogues with each other on racism, engaging with attitudes of compassion, open-mindedness, vulnerability, and willingness to call in each other.
• We make continuing education on diversity and inclusion a part of our professional activities to provide culturally competent services to our students from marginalized groups.
• We make diversity and inclusion a part of staff performance evaluations.
• We make efforts to recruit and retain staff and trainees who hold marginalized identities to diversity the center.
• We collaborate with other offices (e.g., Inclusion Center) to provide support and outreach programs to students who might be experiencing racial trauma, intergenerational trauma, or social unrest.
• We welcome any feedback and opportunities for conversations to better serve our BIPOC students and their communities.

Educational Resources for White Individuals

Aggies Think, Care, Act Training (Coming Soon)

USU CAPS does not endorse any specific treatment program listed in this list.