Black Minds Matter: Healing, Hope, and Harm Reduction

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Black Minds Matter is a community-centered mental health and prevention initiative created to reduce stigma, promote healing, and connect Black and Brown communities to support, education, and resources.

Through culturally responsive conversations, peer engagement, youth prevention activities, and community-based outreach, E.P.I.D.E.M.E.K. is creating safe spaces where individuals and families can talk openly about mental health, trauma, stress, substance use, coping skills, and healing.

Our goal is simple: to help our community speak up, reach out, and heal together.

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About the Initiative​

Many people in our community carry pain in silence because of stigma, fear, cultural expectations, or lack of access to trusted support. Black Minds Matter was created to meet people where they are — in barbershops, community spaces, youth settings, and online — with messages that are real, relatable, and rooted in care.

This initiative focuses on:

• Mental health awareness

• Substance use prevention

• Harm reduction education

• Trauma-informed support

• Peer-led conversations

• Youth resilience and coping skills

• Community connection and resource sharing

• Reducing stigma around therapy and asking for help

We believe healing does not happen in isolation. Healing happens in community.

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Summer Community Events

Barbershop Pop-Up Conversations​

June & July | Dates Announced Soon

Our Barbershop Pop-Up Conversations create safe, trusted spaces for Black men and community members to talk openly about mental health, stress, trauma, substance use, brotherhood, accountability, and support.

These conversations are designed to break stigma and remind Black men that asking for help is not weakness — it is strength.

Topics include:

• Black men’s mental health

• Stress, grief, trauma, and pressure

• Substance use prevention

• Healthy coping skills

• Brotherhood and accountability

• Community resources and support

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Rise Ready Youth Summit​

Saturday, July 18
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
2211 Lake Club Drive, Columbus, Ohio

The Rise Ready Youth Summit is a one-day youth prevention and resilience event focused on helping young people build confidence, make healthy decisions, and develop practical coping skills.

Youth will participate in peer discussions, substance use prevention education, mental wellness conversations, and resilience-building activities.

Event focus areas include:

• Peer support and healthy relationships

• Substance use prevention

• Coping skills and emotional regulation

• Stress management

• Positive decision-making

• Youth voice and leadership

• Community connection

Real talk. Better choices. Stronger futures.

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Why This Matters​

Black and Brown communities continue to face barriers to mental health care, including stigma, lack of access, mistrust of systems, trauma exposure, and limited culturally responsive support.

Black Minds Matter exists to help change that.

By creating trusted spaces for conversation and connection, this initiative helps individuals and families understand that support is available, healing is possible, and no one has to suffer in silence.

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Get Involved​

Community members, partners, barbershops, faith leaders, youth organizations, and local businesses are invited to support and participate in Black Minds Matter events.

You can get involved by:

• Attending an event

• Hosting a pop-up conversation

• Sharing campaign materials

• Connecting someone to resources

• Supporting youth prevention efforts

• Helping break the stigma around mental health

Together, we can build stronger minds, stronger families, and stronger communities.

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Crisis Support

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for immediate support.

You are not alone. Help is available. Healing is possible.

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Sponsor Acknowledgment

Black Minds Matter: Healing, Hope, and Harm Reduction is presented by E.P.I.D.E.M.E.K. and sponsored by the ADAMH Board of Franklin County.

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E.P.I.D.E.M.E.K. is grateful for ADAMH’s support in helping expand mental health awareness, prevention, and stigma reduction efforts throughout Franklin County.