Choosing Joy: Redefining Black Women’s Mental Health

Updated: 1 day ago

Exploring the importance of their role and representation

What does it mean to center joy—not just survival—in Black women’s mental health? Emerging research on Black women’s mental health increasingly emphasizes that joy is not merely an outcome of well-being, but a critical mechanism that supports it.

Studies highlight that “Black joy” functions as a form of resistance and healing, countering the psychological toll of racism, gendered stress, and systemic inequities by affirming identity, community, and self-worth (Hall & Bell, 2022; Williams & McCloud, 2023). Rather than focusing solely on trauma and pathology, scholars argue for strength-based frameworks that recognize joy, creativity, and collective care—such as sisterhood, storytelling, and community connection—as protective factors that enhance resilience and mental health outcomes . Additionally, research shows that social support networks and culturally grounded practices contribute to higher levels of optimism and psychological well-being, even in the face of structural adversity, reframing joy as both a culturally embedded resource and an evidence-based pathway to healing (Combs, 2023; Hall & Bell, 2022; Mimms et al., 2026)

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Kanika Bell, Associate Professor of Psychology at Clark Atlanta Universit, licensed psychologist, scholar-activist, and nationally recognized expert on mental health, justice, and joy. The editor of Black Women’s Mental Health, she is also co-owner of A.T.L. Psychotherapy & Consulting Services and JOY, where she serves as a joy coach and host of the JOY podcast, helping individuals and organizations cultivate greater joy in their lives and work.

To learn more about Dr. Bell click here.

More works by Dr. Bell:

This episode will be avilable September 21.

Season 3 Episode 13

Running Time: TBD minutes