Here's How a SMILE Can Help Fight Mental Illness

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness month, the official name is Bebe More Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness month, in honor of Campbell's efforts to improve access to mental health treatment for people of color.

I recently joined the advisory board of Black Girls Smile, Inc. I'm happy to be a part of a project bringing mental health awareness to the forefront. You could say I'm ecstatic and all smiles. Black Girls Smile, Inc. just launched a multi-platform mental health advocacy campaign for July - "Together We Smile." The purpose of “Together We Smile” is to unite communities during the month of July for Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Our goal is to get the topic of mental wellness/health trending throughout major social media platforms.

We are sharing mental wellness tips, pledging to take care of our mental health and being aware that, according to Nami.org "1 in 5 adults experiences a mental health condition every year." Sometimes healing starts with a SMILE.

We need your help, here's how you can support...

1. Be Educated: Download our mental wellness tip-sheet to learn more about how you can stay mentally healthy and help a loved one.

2. Take the pledge: Stand with BGS to be a positive force for change in the dialogue surrounding mental wellness

3. Contribute: Donate to the crowd fund to help raise funds to further the mission to promote programs, events and initiatives that help ensure we ALL SMILE!

You can follow @blackgirlssmile on Twitter and Instagram using the #TogetherWeSmile hashtag to show your involvement. Also don't miss out on the Instagram #TogetherWeSmile Challenge starting, 7/13.

If you or someone you know needs help with a mental illness or psychological trauma, please click here for a help guide.