AFAM Studies Minor Founds BIPOC Mental Health Collective at BU
This summer, Psychology major and AFAM Studies minor Kesha Perkins (CAS ’21) founded the BIPOC Mental Health Collective at Boston University. The student collective serves both as a safe space for minority students to engage in positive mental health practices and as an agent for change within BU’s on-campus mental health resource center.
“I organized this collective because BIPOC students deserve therapeutic representation,” Kesha shared on Instagram. “Moreover, I wanted to create a communal space for racial minorities to be vulnerable and feel supported by their peers.”
In July, they created a petition for the university to hire BIPOC therapists to diversify the resources available from BU Behavioral Medicine. As of November 12, the petition has over 1,900 signatures.
“My experiences with Black therapists have been fundamental to my growth as a Black woman in predominately white spaces,” Kesha wrote. “Being able to discuss feelings/situations without having to first explain why it upset me is such a blessing.”
Very active on Instagram, the collective shares curated resources with their internet community, and they host weekly Mindfulness Office Hours on Zoom. They have received an outpour of support from many BU student organizations, including Umoja, Girlfriends, and Sargent College Student Government.
“BIPOC student mental health is a priority for us,” Sargent College Student Government shared on Instagram. “As Sargent student leaders, we especially value the focus on racial justice in mental health, as there is so much work to be done in the medical field to correct systemic racism and disproportionate care.”
Kesha has been interviewed by Voyage ATL and featured in an article from BU Today.