SPCCC July 2026 Newsletter

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July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to reaffirm that every person is more than any label or category. Effective suicide prevention begins by recognizing our shared humanity, understanding each person's unique circumstances, and creating communities where people experience connection, belonging, and hope. At its core, suicide prevention starts with seeing the person in front of us—their story, their strengths, and their human struggles.

No Longer an Afterthought: Suicide Prevention for Black Youth afsp.org

From suicide prevention to suicide provision: The troubling growth of Canada’s medical assistance in dying program. psycnet.apa.org

Suicide Prevention: Capacity and Federal Assessment of the 988 Lifeline gao.gov

Book Spotlight: It’s the Culture for Me by L.E. Johnson II, Ed.D.

This month’s book spotlight highlights It’s the Culture for Me by Dr. L.E. Johnson II, a scholar, community advocate, and leader with deep ties to Battle Creek and Calhoun County.

In It’s the Culture for Me, Dr. Johnson explores mental health within African American communities and examines how culture has shaped resilience, identity, and well-being. The book invites readers to consider how our experiences, communities, and cultural backgrounds influence the way we understand mental health and what holistic approaches to wellness can look like today.

Dr. Johnson’s work emphasizes culturally relevant approaches that recognize the whole person—mind, body, relationships, and community. Every person has a story, strengths, and experiences shaped by generations before them, their culture, and their lived experiences. As we work to prevent suicide, It’s the Culture for Me offers an important reminder that identity, heritage, and relationships play a meaningful role in mental health and in creating communities where people find meaning, belonging, and purpose.