Each July, Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month puts a spotlight on the deep-rooted barriers that leave Black, Indigenous, and other people of color more likely to face mental health challenges and less likely to get the care they need. Mental Health America calls on organizations to “turn awareness into action,” and this year marks 16 years of that call. The urgency hasn’t faded: Black adults are still 20% more likely than white adults to report serious psychological distress. And while mental illness affects all races at similar rates, Black communities often face worse outcomes simply because they’re not treated.
Dr. Kiki Ramsey is one of the leaders turning that awareness into real change. A positive psychologist and executive coach, her work sits right at the intersection of mental health and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As founder and CEO of the Positive Psychology Coaching and Diversity Institute (PPCaDI), she believes that mental well-being and equity go hand in hand and that you can’t make lasting progress for Black communities without tackling both at once.
Embedding Inclusion into Everyday Culture
When Dr. Kiki launched PPCaDI in 2020, her mission was clear: help leaders build stronger, more inclusive workplaces. Based in Atlanta, the organization works with everyone from fast-growing startups to large government agencies, offering leadership coaching, strategic DEI planning, and evidence-based programs. But PPCaDI doesn’t stop at training sessions. The team helps organizations put inclusion into practice through regular check-ins, clear roadmaps, and strengths-based assessments that shape how decisions are made every day.
Dr. Kiki focuses on advancing Black and women leaders and often points to the slow progress in getting them into executive roles. While there have been some gains, unconscious bias and unequal access to funding still hold many people back. Her coaching aims to break down those barriers and, just as importantly, ease the emotional toll that Black employees often carry in environments that claim to be inclusive but don’t always follow through.
Applying Positive Psychology to Build Resilience
Dr. Kiki’s background in positive psychology influences everything she does. Instead of focusing only on what’s wrong, this science looks at what helps people thrive. PPCaDI resources show that emotions like gratitude, purpose, and optimism are tied to better performance and lower turnover. Leaders, she says, can create healthier teams by helping people tap into their strengths.
During Minority Mental Health Month, Dr. Kiki focuses especially on Black professionals who often face a double burden: bias at work on top of community stress from things like racial violence or lack of access to care. She teaches small but meaningful mindset shifts, like keeping a daily strengths journal or treating setbacks as data, not defeat.
Helping Leaders Create Psychologically Safe and Culturally Competent Teams
Research shows that innovation only happens when people feel safe to speak up. That’s why psychological safety is a core piece of Dr. Kiki’s work. Through her cultural competency programs, she teaches leaders how to build trust by understanding where they fall on the Bennett Scale and how to stay open to growth.
One popular exercise encourages leaders to revisit a recent decision and ask whose voice was missing. Another pairs team members for “strengths interviews” that reveal hidden talents and foster connection. PPCaDI’s quarterly surveys show real results: teams that engage in this work report fewer microaggressions and more collaborative problem-solving. While these strategies work across many groups, they’re especially important for Black employees who are often forced to carry the emotional weight of bias in the workplace. When that weight is lifted, they can focus fully on the work they’re meant to do.
Dr. Kiki also brings these powerful conversations into the community. Every July, she hosts the Thrive Women’s Conference, diving into real topics like breaking therapy stigma in the Black community or helping professional women learn to advocate for themselves. Throughout the year, she shares practical tools and resources online on the Dr. Kiki Ramsey Show podcast or her professional women-based community, Thrive Society, always reminding people that while systems must evolve, empowered individuals have the power to spark change right where they are.
Laying the Groundwork for Long-Term Change
This year, Minority Mental Health Month comes at a moment when conversations about DEI are more charged than ever. But that’s exactly why Dr. Kiki’s work matters. As the CDC notes, awareness months like this one help keep disparities visible, but the real impact comes from turning that awareness into action. PPCaDI offers a framework to do just that: assess where leaders are falling short, build inclusive habits grounded in positive psychology, and treat cultural competence like any other leadership skill.
For Dr. Kiki, the benefits go beyond better morale. “When employees feel psychologically safe and seen, innovation accelerates because people who are well can do their best thinking,” she often says. It’s a simple truth, backed by research and personal experience. And it’s what turns this month from a ceremonial observance into a real opportunity to lead differently.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical or psychological advice. For personalized support or guidance regarding mental health, diversity, equity, and inclusion, individuals are encouraged to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed therapist.
