As we come to the close of July, families across the state are trying to squeeze in vacations while also getting their kids ready to start a new school year while also continuing with their day-to-day lives. But for many of our friends and neighbors, normal end-of-summer activities are being uprooted and everyday activities are no longer possible as they fear the increased presence of ICE on our streets. Many families have already been torn apart, making normal life impossible as they struggle with the emotional and financial impacts. Others are afraid to leave their homes to buy school supplies or food or even just to enjoy the weather. The fear is so deep and so broadly felt that some neighborhoods feel empty and many of our summer cultural festivals are being cancelled, taking away a chance for our communities to come together in unity and celebration.
Over 30 years ago, Congress established the fourth Sunday in July as “Parents’ Day”, a day for “recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of their children.” Yet this Sunday, when many organizations, local governments, and families celebrate, thousands of others find that they have nothing to celebrate. Thousands of families find that the federal government has taken away the role of parents if they do not have the proper paperwork, no matter how vital they might be in their child’s upbringing. Thousands of parents find themselves behind bars or already sent to another country, wondering when they will be able to see their children again, if ever.
At times like these, it is important for our communities to remember some of the other observations this month. Today is international Self-Care Day, which marks the end of Self-Care Month which runs from June 24-July 24 every year and is an opportunity to celebrate self-care practices and interventions. The World Health Organization is marking the occasion by providing a number of resources to promote both physical and mental self-care including a new Communications Toolkit to help raise awareness around the serious need for self-care.
July is also Minority Mental Health Month, also known as BIPOC Mental Health Month, which recognizes that culture, ethnicity, and race all play a role in the way that we experience the world. Mental Health America has provided a number of resources to address BIPOC mental health, and UCLA has compiled resources specifically for BIPOC youth. We encourage everyone to use and share these resources, and any other you might find, with your families, friends, and neighbors and provide any other support you can both to each other and to yourselves. Our families and our communities have a long struggle for justice ahead of us, and we are best served by taking care of ourselves and each other while we continue the fight.