From Trauma to Transformation: Local Mental Health Advocates Lead New Era in Community Wellness

In the heart of Washington, D.C., a quiet revolution is taking place, not in politics or protests, but in the realm of mental health. 

In recognition of National Minority Mental Health Month, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Shareefah Al’Uqdah and mental health advocate Rylinda Rhodes are redefining what healing looks like in underserved communities, one clinic, one conversation, one self-check at a time.

“We have to bring mental health services directly into communities where there is demonstrated need,” said Al’Uqdah. “That’s why I call myself Your Neighborhood Psychologist, because that’s exactly what mental health should be: available and grounded where people live.”

A Mission Sparked by Tragedy

While Al’Uqdah was still a graduate student at Howard University, a heartbreaking event in 2008 prompted her to move from theory to action: the Banita Jacks case.  

Jacks, a mother in Southeast D.C., murdered her four young daughters during a mental health crisis. The case stunned the city, not only for its horror, but because it exposed a dangerous absence of preventative mental health support in underserved areas.

“What stood out to me most was that the community didn’t have the tools or access to mental health services to appropriately intervene before things turned tragic,” Al’Uqdah said. “I realized that mental health needs, especially in underserved neighborhoods, are often varied and complex, and that early intervention can literally save lives.”

This idea of early intervention and accessible care resonates deeply with Rhodes, a certified peer recovery coach with the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health, who well knows what it’s like to fall through the cracks.

“I’ve been in the psych ward. I’ve been misdiagnosed. I’ve gone through withdrawal,” said Rhodes, who lives with bipolar depression and PTSD. “It hasn’t been easy, but I’m thriving now. I’m the product and proof that a healthy system of mental health care actually works.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mental health conditions affect 23%, nearly 1 in 5, of all adults in the nation. Both Al’Uqdah and Rhodes emphasize recognition of early stressors as key to one’s mental health journey.

“I encourage people to seek mental health services as soon as they perceive that they feel different,” Al’Uqdah advised.  “Even subtle changes in emotion or behavior should be cared for in the same way as your health, at the first sign, before we reach the level of a crisis.”

Different Communities, Different Needs

National Minority Mental Health Month was established in 2008 in honor of the late author and mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell. 

The month aims to elevate conversations around the unique mental health challenges experienced by minority groups, in honor of Campbell, whose daughter, actress Maia Campbell, has also been upfront about her battles with bipolar disorder and substance abuse.

“Each community has its own trauma story,” Al’Uqdah explained. “Whether it’s intergenerational trauma or mistrust of the medical system, mental health doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s shaped by history and context.”

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Black adults are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems, yet they are far less likely to receive adequate care. And when they do seek care, they often face misdiagnosis, stigma, or treatment by clinicians who don’t understand their lived experience.

Rhodes explained that this disconnect can begin early in life, where trauma is misinterpreted and unhealthy behaviors are normalized.

“As a little girl, I was taught that if a boy pulls your hair, it means he likes you. That teaches you to associate love with pain,” she recounted. “I was never taught how to express hurt without aggression. I was taught to hit back, to use words as weapons when hurt, but never how to communicate my feelings.”

That kind of learned behavior, Rhodes said, stays with people and affects their ability to form safe, trusting relationships. 

“Many of us were raised in survival mode,” she continued. “Even admiration and love get distorted. We weren’t taught how to feel safe with each other.”

Al’Uqdah agrees that addressing deep-seated patterns is vital to progress. As an associate professor at Howard University, she trains counseling students and, through a federally funded grant, places them in medically underserved areas, often alongside community support workers like Rhodes.

“We can’t treat everyone the same and expect healing,” Al’Uqdah emphatically stated. “True mental health equity means understanding the stories behind the symptoms, and building care that honors the culture, struggle, and strength of each community.”

Mental Health Starts With Daily Decisions

Mental health care isn’t just about therapy sessions, both women emphasize. It’s about recognizing patterns, building emotional vocabulary, and knowing when something is off.

Rhodes developed what she calls trigger action plans, grounded in routine and self-awareness. She journals regularly and pays close attention to cues. 

“If I haven’t slept, if the bed’s unmade for days, if I’m not eating well, those are signs,” she said. “I don’t wait for the crash. I stop, breathe, and check in with myself.”

Al’Uqdah encourages a similar proactive mindset. 

“You wouldn’t ignore chest pain for days. Don’t ignore emotional pain, either,” she said. “Seek help at the first sign that something feels different.”

Practical advice from Your Neighborhood Psychologist for balancing mental stressors includes: stepping away from digital screens every two hours, getting outside for fresh air, and reexamining relationships with technology.

“Even a five-minute digital detox can calm the nervous system,” Al’Uqdah indicated.  “Take time to breathe. Reconnect with your body and your environment.”

Rhodes, founder of Mane Rhodes Soap and Wellness, noted that even simple acts, such as creating a calming scent environment, can be powerful. Through her wellness business, she brings awareness to trauma through the use of aromatherapy, calming scents, and oils that promote calming and healing.

“Communities of color have lagged behind because of shame and stigma.  We were taught learned behaviors that tear down and not build up,” the mental health advocate said.

Al’Uqdah and Rhodes advocate, directly within communities, the need to seek mental health care to break generational cycles of poorly managed or unaddressed trauma.

“I had to learn how to retrain my brain and give myself permission to not repay hurt with hurt,” Rhodes said. “As a parent, it was my duty to not only teach my children a better way to process and communicate, but to reach those who are on the other side of the mental health journey and need to know that, even in the darkest times, like me, you can find a way out.”