Baptist and collaborators to host ‘Therapy for Black Girls’ podcast creator and free mental health and wellness expo

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 16, 2024– Baptist Memorial Health Care has collaborated with Shelby County Government and cityCURRENT to host a free, community mental health and wellness expo followed by Q&A with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, licensed psychologist, author and host of the “Therapy for Black Girls” podcast on Thursday, Sept. 19 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Dr. H. E. Garrett Sr. Auditorium on Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis’ campus.   

Bradford created the “Therapy for Black Girls” podcast and website in 2014 to make mental health topics more relevant and accessible to Black women and girls. Since then, she’s focused on the stigma around mental health in the African American community, normalizing therapy for Black women, the need for Black women to set boundaries and the impact of the pandemic and racial violence on Black women.

            “Baptist Memorial Health Care is pleased to welcome Dr. Joy Harden Bradford to Memphis,” said Keith Norman, vice president/chief government affairs and community relations officer for Baptist Memorial Health Care. “Her experience and influence in providing mental health, specifically for Black women, supports Baptist’s mission to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in health care.”

            Bradford will participate in two events during the week. On Thursday, Baptist’s free mental health and wellness expo will feature local experts and resources from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Bradford will then participate in a Q&A from 6–7 p.m., which will be moderated by Miska Clay Bibbs, chairwoman of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

            “It is my honor to join Baptist and cityCURRENT for this special event featuring Dr. Joy Harden Bradford,” said Bibbs. “Mental health is an important issue in Shelby County and one that we cannot ignore. The mental wellness, particularly of women, directly affects the well-being of families and the greater community and deserves our attention and support.”

The expo and Q&A are free and open to the public. Anyone interested in participating can register here: www.baptistonline.org/cc. Bradford will also be the keynote speaker for cityCURRENT’s Signature Speaker Series on Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Baptist Memorial Health Care has been caring for the health and wellness needs of the Mid-South since 1912. In that time, Baptist has grown from one metropolitan hospital in the center of Memphis, Tennessee, to 24 hospitals providing care throughout Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. Now employing more than 21,000 people and 1,100 providers through Baptist Medical Group, Baptist is recognized as a premier provider of multidisciplinary health care services and an active community partner. In fiscal year 2022, Baptist contributed more than $455 million in community benefit and uncompensated care to the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.baptistonline.org or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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