Looking to make a difference this month? Join Crisis Text Line’s community of volunteer Crisis Counselors today!

This February, in recognition of Black History Month, we encourage everyone to reflect on the history, contributions, and wisdom of African Americans while celebrating the depth, diversity, and impact of their accomplishments. To promote awareness of mental health advocacy within the Black community, we are sharing 3 tangible ways you can learn about and support the Black community as well as a story of one of our incredible Black Changemakers, Erin Tatean!

1. Support Black-owned Businesses

Take the extra step of researching Black-owned businesses. By choosing to shop, dine, and invest in Black-owned establishments, we not only help foster economic empowerment but also honor the resilience, creativity, and contributions of Black entrepreneurs.

Unsure where to start? ByBlack has plenty of locations to take a look at.

2. Read Books Written by Black Authors

It can be difficult learning where to start when it comes to the endless amount of books there are to read. By visiting your local library, you can always ask a librarian for support and suggestions. You also can never lose by making a selection from some of the most distinguished honors in literature. The NAACP Image Award for Literature Winners is a good place to start!

3. Become a Mental Health Changemaker by Volunteering with Crisis Text Line

Becoming a volunteer and supporting the mental health community can be an excellent way to help defeat the stigmas that surround it. 

Meet Erin Steatean, one of our selfless volunteer Crisis Counselors who was recently selected as a mental health changemaker for Black History Month. In the interview below, learn more about Erin’s experience being a Crisis Text Line volunteer.

What inspired you to volunteer? How has this focus shaped the way you engage with your community and drive change? 

What inspired me to volunteer was my own experiences dealing with mental health. This focus has changed the way I engage with people in general as I am a counselor in training, it has molded me on what to do and how to react in a crisis.

Share a recent story of success that illustrates the impact of your work in mental health, showcasing the difference you’ve made in someone’s life.

This story really stuck with me, although I’ve been super busy and unable to work the site like I want to I’ll always remember this story. There was a texter who reached out and he was suicidal, he felt he had no purpose and I helped him find his purpose again. He’d always wanted to start an organization helping others and in his dark time, he had forgotten about that. But I helped him remember and he was extremely grateful and I was ecstatic to be able to help someone find themselves again in such little time.

What advice would you give volunteers looking to make a difference in improving mental health access and awareness within their communities?

We are all human so we should treat each other as such. Even if the texter is circling or they are angry don’t lose your cool because these are ways that they’ve seen fit to express themselves in a time of need. Everyone reaching out just needs a listening ear and maybe a resource and we can be that resource.

Become a mental health changemaker today!