On June 19, 1865, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, Union soldiers finally arrived in Galveston, TX, to announce to enslaved Black people that they were free. This day, now known as Juneteenth, marks the end of legal slavery in the United States. Each year Juneteenth serves as more than a historical milestone – It is a somber reminder of delayed justice. A time of reflection. And a call to remember that freedom has always been complex – especially for those of us who live at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities.
Juneteenth and Mental Health
You may be wondering why a mental health counselor is writing about Juneteenth. The fact is that the effects of slavery, racial violence, and systemic oppression don’t just live in history books- they live in bodies, families, and communities. Trauma is passed down the generations and can impact mental health in ways that are deeply felt, even when not consciously understood.
Research shows that racial trauma (stemming from historical oppression, contemporary discrimination, and chronic exposure to racialized stressors) can lead to symptoms similar to PTSD: hypervigilance, anxiety, depression, dissociation, and emotional exhaustion. And for many in the Black community, especially those who also identify as LGBTQIA+, access to affirming care has historically been limited.
This is why mental health care must be rooted in understanding, empathy, and cultural responsiveness; acknowledging not only the present-day challenges individuals face, but also the legacies that shape those challenges.
Reclamation
Juneteenth is a time to remember. But it is also a time to reclaim.
We remember that freedom was not freely given, it was fought for.
We remember that healing is not linear, it is multilayered, generational, ongoing, and looks different for everyone.
We remember that celebration and grief can coexist, and both are valid.
And in therapy, we help clients reclaim what has often been denied: rest, voice, safety, joy, and the space to be fully human.
The therapy room can be one of the few places where we’re allowed to stop pretending we’re okay. Where we get to name our grief, our rage, our exhaustion—and not be asked to shrink it.
Mental health isn’t separate from liberation, it is liberation.
Honoring Juneteenth
For all of us, regardless of background, Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect on the past while committing to equity, inclusion, and collective healing in the present. Here are a few ways to honor Juneteenth meaningfully:
- Learn the history. Educate yourself about Juneteenth and the ongoing impacts of racial injustice on mental health.
- Acknowledge racial trauma. Recognize the emotional toll systemic oppression takes on individuals and communities, and the importance of culturally responsive care.
- Support mental health equity. Advocate for and invest in mental health resources that serve marginalized populations with respect and integrity.
- Hold space. Whether in your family, workplace, or community, create room for authentic conversations about race, history, identity, and healing.
- Celebrate joy. Joy is an act of resistance. Black joy, in all its forms, is a powerful expression of resilience and liberation.
At its heart, Juneteenth reminds us that healing takes time and that justice delayed is not justice denied when we keep working toward liberation in all its forms, including mental and emotional wellness.
Resources for Black Mental Health Support:
- Therapy for Black Girls – https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com
- The Loveland Foundation – https://thelovelandfoundation.org
- Black Men Heal – https://blackmenheal.org
- BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective) – https://beam.community
