Supporting each other and working together is how Black folks survived the horrors of slavery, and continue to survive family separation, state-sanctioned oppression and more. Black Joy is made possible by community members looking out for one another and lifting each other up through the toughest of times.
In the spirit of community, connectedness, and looking out for one another, our Equity Team showed up in spaces of color this Black History Month to provide skills training around suicide prevention and encourage healing – sharing culturally responsive resources in the Portland/Metro area.
Empowering each other to best support one another breeds Black Joy and pride in ourselves.
Oregon Change Clinic Suicide Prevention Training
Our Equity team recently visited Oregon Change Clinic – a culturally specific recovery program in Northeast Portland – to train their staff in the QPR suicide prevention curriculum. The clinic is staffed and led entirely by Black and Brown clinicians and social workers, who engaged in the training with robust conversation, questions, and insights.
We are honored to continue working together with our community to look out for one another and share skills and experience to promote mental wellness for all.
“We need this in our community – so thank y’all for what y’all are doing.”
-Training Participant
Trainees were also equipped to pass along our Culturally Specific Resource Guide for the Portland area, including information about the Lines for Life Racial Equity Support Line.
Urban League Pop-Up Health Clinic Event
Earlier this month, we teamed up with the Urban League of Portland to offer resources for emotional and mental wellness at a healthcare event focused on HIV Awareness. The event offered free health screenings and dental services, and our team hosted a table directing attendees to the Racial Equity Support Line and other culturally specific behavioral health resources, as well as other Lines for Life services.
This collaboration is our first partnership with Urban League of Portland, which has a rich history and deep roots in Portland’s Black community. We are honored to be included as a trusted partner in events like these to offer resources and support to our community and cultivate Black Joy.
Find Culturally Tailored Support
Advocating for culturally responsive healthcare, including mental health access and expertise, is imperative to improve outcomes in our communities. Lines for Life’s Equity programs partner with community organizations to provide training and support and create networks of culturally responsive services throughout Oregon.
- Learn more about our Racial Equity Support Line – an emotional support helpline led and staffed by people of color
- Learn more about Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Black communities
- Explore culturally specific community resources in Oregon
- See more research about Black mental health in the United States
