Black History Month is celebrated from Friday the 1st of October to Sunday the 31st of October 2022. It’s not just a month to celebrate the continued achievements and contributions of Black people globally, but it’s also a time for continued action to tackle racism, reclaim Black history, and ensure Black history is represented and celebrated all year round.
The 2022 Black History Month’s theme is ‘Black Health and Wellness’. This focuses on recognising the contributions and breakthroughs of Black professionals as well as health and wellness practitioners. USC experts examined how the fight for racial and social justice takes a toll on the bodies and minds of Black Americans, and how joy and wellness are crucial for their strength and resilience.
60% of Black professionals reported racism in the workplace, with 67% of modern-day job seekers reporting diversity as the main factor when choosing their next job role. Organisations and teams should be valuing diversity in the workplace as it encourages a more open, positive, and welcoming workplace culture. A study by Josh Bersin found that inclusive workplaces are 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders.
Mental Health plays a large part in overall wellness, Dulaney feels in terms of black health there is a great difference in the African American community. "There's been a stigma among some African Americans about getting mental health or getting help period in terms of mental conditions. As a result, African Americans are less likely to seek help, whether they're depressed or having other issues." Organisations truly need to understand the issues faced by their Black employees and encourage conversation around the topic, allowing individuals to open-up about the experiences they have faced. Unless we are focused and determined to make significant change to racial injustice, inequalities will continue to be a problem in our society.
A Wellity session ‘Inclusive Leadership’ helps delegates to understand the benefits of fostering a positive and inclusive workplace environment. It explores the barriers to inclusivity including unconscious bias, communication styles, cultural differences, and group representation.
To find out how you can support your team this Black History Month, contact our Wellity team at hello@wellityglobal.com