Statement of Support for Black Students at Miami University

The staff of the Student Counseling Service at Miami University do not condone violence of any type but, in particular, the anti-black violence that has taken the lives of too many Black people of all genders in this country.  We are saddened and angry over recent shootings and assault by law enforcement.  We denounce racism and we state with conviction that Black Lives Matter.  We speak out against violence since we know silence represents complicity with systems of oppression that we have a responsibility to dismantle.

To our Black and African American students: we stand with you and we commit to offering a welcoming environment at our center where you are respected and acknowledged for your uniqueness.  SCS acknowledges our responsibility to continually ensure we provide an affirming and accepting space so we are committed to ongoing self-examination of our own biases and to speak out against hate, oppression, and White supremacy that negatively impact us all.   

In the aftermath of experiencing or witnessing trauma, it is normal to experience a range of feelings and emotions, such as shock, fear, sadness, anger, helplessness and/or guilt.  As a mental health service, SCS is committed to affirming and providing support for all of our students who have been directly or vicariously impacted by experiences of racism, discrimination, prejudice, bigotry, stereotyping and/or violence. 

We have hope for change and healing and we wish to promote this change and healing in ways that work best for you.  If you are interested in mental health therapy, please call us at 513-529-4634 to begin the process, try our drop-in Campus Care program, or visit our website.  If you have an urgent concern, please call the 24-hour H.O.P.E. Line at 855-249-5649.

Below, we have included some additional resources that we hope will be helpful to you as we all work toward a process of recovery.  We want you to know that we see you.  We hear you.  We are committed to making the Miami campus community a welcoming and affirming environment for all of our students of color.

• • Anti-racism resources from Miami University’s Division of Student Life
  • Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion at Miami
  • Therapy for Black Girls: Psychologist Dr. Joy Bradford encourages the mental wellness of Black women and girls and provides a free podcast 
  • 44 Mental Health Resources for Black People in the U.S.
  • College Students of Color and Mental Health
  • Self-Care Tips for Black People in light of racial violence and COVID
  • 12 Black Mental-Health and Wellness Resources to Follow on Instagram
  • Why Self-Care is Crucial For People of Color (and Especially Activists)
  • 8 Black Therapists on Their Best Advice for Coping Right Now
  • "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired”
  • Project Implicit: Implicit Association Test
  • National Education Association Diversity Toolkit: Race and Ethnicity
  • CaresMentoring.org

Calls to Action:
Call or write to state legislators to require racial impact statements for all criminal justice bills. Most states already require fiscal and environmental impact statements for certain legislation. Racial impact statements evaluate if a bill may create or exacerbate racial disparities should the bill become law. Check out the status of your state's legislation surrounding these statements here.