Community and Mental Health Resources for QTPOC Coloradans

It has been a tough year for everyone grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly divisive politics at the forefront of many conversations. It’s also been a major time in addressing human rights issues, racial justice, and white supremacy in the United States.

Denver has an ever-growing, diverse queer community, and now more than ever, we need to ensure that everyone in our community has the resources they need to survive and thrive as we emerge from the pandemic. Whether you or someone you know needs some extra mental health support, mutual aid, or are just looking for more resources and support during this tumultuous time, look no further.

We rounded up some of the best resources for queer, trans Black Indigenous people of color in need right now:

Black Trans Advocacy Coalition

The National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition works to address a multitude of issues that effect Black, trans people in all communities. 

Regarding their mission, the BTAC states, “Through our national advocacy center and affiliate state chapters we work daily, advocating to end poverty, discrimination in all forms and its human inequities faced in health, employment, housing and education that are rooted in systemic racism, to improve the lived experience of transgender people.  Our work is based in peace building, community education, public policy initiatives, empowerment programs and direct services.”

Specifically, they offer free food boxes for Black, trans families in need; offer free transportation for Black, trans people who need accessible and safe rides; COVID-19 care packages with essential material; and mutual aid funds to Black, trans individuals in need. (Priority is given houseless individuals, youth and students, seniors age 55 and up, and people living with HIV.) blacktrans.org

National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network

Many people benefits from therapy, but for folks with different backgrounds and identities, it’s all the more crucial to ensure that a therapist has an understanding of these often intersecting identities when providing care for their patients. 

The National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network describes themselves as “a healing justice organization that actively works to transform mental health for queer and trans people of color in North America. Together we build the capacity of QTPOC mental health practitioners, increase access to healing justice resources, provide technical assistance to social justice movement organizations to integrate healing justice into their work. Our overall goal is to increase access to healing justice resources for QTPOC.”

The Network offers an interactive digital directory to help locate QTPOC mental health practitioners across the country, to date with more than 145 practitioners in the directory, increasing regularly. 

You can find the directory and more information by visiting their website nqttcn.com. inclusivetherapists.com

The Okra Project

For folks who want to get involved in community efforts behind the scenes, or potentially need extra assistance, The Okra Project was founded to help address “the global crisis faced by Black trans people,” specifically around offering healthy, home-cooked meals and resources to Black trans people wherever they can be reached. 

”For Black people, in particular, the kitchen is such a place of family lineage,” says Founder Ianne Fields Stewart. “It’s a place of community. It’s a place of love. Daily life occurs in the kitchen. And so to have that kitchen be filled with someone who looks, loves, and lives like you, is a luxury and a joy.”

The Okra Project has multiple programs, and although their COVID-19 relief fund is currently closed, they are still distributing all requested funding through their #OkraEats program, a response to limited food supply, rental discrimination, raising unemployment, and medication shortages, and to increase mutual aid funding to Black, trans people in need.

They also have open applications to amplify Black, trans people seeking community funds and resources of any kind. theokraproject.com

Asian Mental Health Project

Following the harmful and racist rhetoric from the Trump administration post-pandemic, the Asian Mental Health Project is a crucial resources dedicated to dispelling the misconception of mental health struggles as a sign of weakness and specifically focused on showing up for Asian-American communities. 

The Project focuses on educational programming, community events, and partnerships, hosting a weekly check-in each Wednesday for AAPI folks looking to connect. The Asian Mental Health Project is also open to collaborations and folks looking to get involved and potentially host check-ins. They also have a run a blog on their website with additional community and mental health resources. asianmentalhealth.com

Colorado Crisis Services

Right now, people need support for a multitude of reasons, sometimes in this isolated time just knowing there is someone else who is there to listen. For those times, Colorado Crisis Services is there to help, having helped more than 1 million Coloradans in need when they needed it most.

Professionals are equipped to help individuals for a multitude of concerns, as specific gender and identity to more general issues like isolation, anxiety, or stress. They are available 24/7/365, and it is the mission of Colorado Crisis Services to strengthen the state’s mental health system by providing residents with greater access to crisis services any time they need it, regardless of their ability to pay.

Colorado Crisis Services has a call and chat service, all free, confidential, and professional. Coloradans can reach a counselor by calling 1-844-493-8255 or texting “TALK” to 38255. coloradocrisisservices.org