It’s February! Can you believe it?

The shortest month of the year contains an odd mix of holidays. Yesterday was Groundhog Day. Punxsatawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter, which is bad news for those battling seasonal affective disorder.

In a few weeks, we’ll have Valentine’s Day (another depressing occasion for many people) and Presidents Day. And, thanks to an early Easter, Ash Wednesday is this week. (Some people find that depressing, but I find it strangely invigorating - I like undergoing a “spiritual tuneup” during Lent.)

The Chinese/Lunar New Year falls on Thursday, and the month wraps up with Leap Day on the 29th.

Also, the entire month is Black History Month, a time to remember the accomplishments and contributions of African-Americans.

One person worth highlighting is Solomon Carter Fuller, who lived at the turn of the 20th century and is recognized as the first black psychiatrist in the United States.

Although African-Americans have made great strides since then, they still face obstacles when it comes to mental health.
The U.S. Surgeon General reports:

African Americans are over-represented in high-need populations that are particularly at risk for mental illnesses:
* People who are homeless. While representing only 12% of the U.S. population, African Americans make up about 40% of the homeless population.
* People who are incarcerated. Nearly half of all prisoners in State and Federal jurisdictions and almost 40% of juveniles in legal custody are African Americans.
* Children in foster care and the child welfare system. African American children and youth constitute about 45% of children in public foster care and more than half of all children waiting to be adopted.
* People exposed to violence. African Americans of all ages are more likely to be victims of serious violent crime than are non-Hispanic whites. One study reported that over 25% of African American youth exposed to violence met diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among Vietnam War veterans, 21% of black veterans, compared to 14% of non-Hispanic white veterans, suffer from PTSD, apparently because of the greater exposure of blacks to war-zone trauma.

To help rectify the situation, the Black Mental Health Alliance, based in Baltimore, seeks to promote better, more culturally relevant care for black Americans.

Whatever you celebrate this month, may it be healthy!