Depressed
While Black
We give Black-affirming care items to
psychiatric patients
Depressed While Black envisions a world where people of African descent heal from depression through Black-affirming mental health support and advocacy. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit that donated over 600 Black Beauty Supply Kits to 8 psychiatric facilities across the East Coast. Since 2020, we've given Black-affirming care items to tell psychiatric patients they are worthy of care.
Depressed While Black was created by Imadé (ee-MAH-day) in 2014 as an MFA thesis at Columbia University. When Imadé was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2018, she had no Black beauty supply products and had to wear clothes from the Lost & Found. She made a commitment that no other psychiatric patient would experience this.
Overview
Depressed While Black donates Black-affirming personal care items to psychiatric patients and peer respite guests:
- Black Beauty Supply Kits
- Undergarments
- Hygiene Items
- Menstrual Products
- Clothing and Footwear
- Journals, Activity Books, and Black Children's Books
Since 2020, Depressed While Black has donated to 8 psychiatric facilities across the East Coast:
- Alamance Regional Behavioral Health (Burlington, NC)
- Columbia University Psychiatry (New York, NY)
- UNC Psychiatry (Chapel Hill, NC)
- Howard University Psychiatry (Washington D.C.)
- Washigton Heights Community Service (New York, NY)
- Cone Health Behavioral Health (Greensboro, NC)
- Central Regional Hospital (Butner, NC)
- Karaya Peer Respite (Massachusetts)
- Duke Children's Hospital (Durham, NC)
Black Beauty Supply Kits
Depressed While Black partners with Black-owned beauty company Hairizon to provide Black-affirming haircare and skincare items with all-natural, handmade ingredients. Our organization has donated over 600 Black Beauty Supply Kits to 8 psychiatric faciliites across the East Coast.
Kit Materials Packaged by Hairizon:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body Wash
- Hair Oil
- Shea Butter
- Lip Balm
- Satin Bonnet
- Wave Cap
- Wide-tooth Comb
- Brush with no handle
