Magnifying Voices That Need to Be Heard With Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble

Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble was a young girl who was excited about school, and learning. But as a high-achieving Black girl in a class of mostly White students, she found a lot of teachers paid more attention to her race—overlooking her talent.

Her experiences with race-based trauma severely impacted her. Dr. Alfiee (her preferred professional name) turned that pain and frustration she felt into power.

She founded the AAKOMA Project, a nonprofit organization that works to raise mental health awareness and make mental health resources available for kids in underserved communities. Her work is making a difference, giving a voice to young people with mental health struggles.

Dr. Alfiee is one of our top 25 thought leaders, experts, and advocates making a difference in mental health.

See 2023 Honorees

Verywell Mind has the privilege of honoring Dr. Alfiee for her transformative work in the mental health space. After fighting what she describes as an uphill battle in her career, the recognition is fulfilling.

“It is really part of a journey and it’s a wonderful part of the journey,” Dr. Alfiee notes. “It is deeply meaningful for me.”

We take a look at why this recognition means so much to Dr. Alfiee, why it’s so important for her to bring mental health solutions to the forefront, and her hopes for the state of mental health care. 

Where It All Started

Taking care of your mental health is not relegated to one community or one group of people. Dr. Alfiee fights to put that message out on a global scale.

Her drive, her passion, and her fuel to help others started at a young age—when she dealt with her own internal struggles. 

Dr. Alfiee Always Wanted to Empower Others

Dr. Alfiee’s interest in mental health started as a simple desire to help uplift others. When she was young, she saw a lot of her friends and peers struggle with parents who were getting divorced.

Her Experience With Racial Trauma

Dr. Alfiee saw her brother being mistreated because of his race and his size and she wanted to be someone who could offer encouragement and support.

She also wanted to be someone who could help a child who had experiences similar to her own. She dealt with intimidation and microaggressions from teachers who did not value her as a high-achieving African American child. “For me, it was coming home from school on those days and carrying that weight and carrying that worry and anxiety,” she says. “I know now that it’s race-based trauma, but I didn’t know that then.”

Reaching a Diverse Population With Mental Health Care

Dr. Alfiee’s pioneering work in the mental health arena includes work as a psychologist, a mental health advocate, an author, and a podcast host. She is a media contributor for mental health topics for a number of media outlets, including "CNN," "The Washington Post," "Fortune," and "The New York Times." For her, however, it’s not about titles or fame. It’s about making a difference. One of the ways she does that is through her nonprofit organization, The AAKOMA Project.

Founding the AAKOMA Project

“The meaning of Akoma has to do with patience, kindness, [and] welcoming. You treat other people with kindness, you show up for people in the right ways. You are a person who endures and understands. It represents love, unity, goodwill, and faithfulness,” Dr. Alfiee explains.

The AAKOMA Project, a non-profit, that stands for African American Knowledge Optimized for Mindfully-Healthy Adolescents started as a research lab. She expanded its scope and officially incorporated it in 2019.

“Our primary focus when we started was Black youth because nobody was talking about Black youth and how unique they were,” she explains. The focus has grown, morphing into a goal of providing mental health support to diverse groups and underrepresented minorities. “Our mission is to ensure that every child, inclusive of all points of diversity, feels the freedom [to live] authentically and unapologetically,” Dr. Alfiee explains. “If they don’t care about their mental health, they can’t get to that best version of themselves.”

Little research exists that specifically targets youth of color. AAKOMA works to bridge that gap, as well as give resources to help those communities.

The website provides the report, The State of Mental Health for Youth of Color 2022. There is a toolkit filled with statistics, facts, and ways to protect your mental health. Links to workshops, virtual therapy, suicide prevention information, and even consulting to help your organization support youth and young adult mental health are available.

Mental Health on All Platforms—From the Today Show to Red Table Talk

The goal of reaching the youth of all races, genders, sexualities, and ethnicities is infused in everything that Dr. Alfiee does.

She hosts a powerful BIPOC mental health podcast, "Couched in Color." She has joined Charlamagne tha God to discuss mental health in the Black community on the "Today" show.

Dr. Alfiee has appeared on "Red Table Talk" to discuss women’s mental health. She’s been a featured speaker on "Good Morning America," and "The Breakfast Club." She has also worked with the Mental Wealth Expo.

“I think one of the biggest obstacles is this idea that there’s nothing unique about Black people and people of color, and our mental health,” Dr. Alfiee notes. “I think that contributes to internalized stigma [and] how the field of mental health has failed to keep up with the needs of a diverse population.”

Future Outlook for Mental Health

Over 40% of youth of color have dealt with racial trauma. Black youth are more likely to attempt suicide than youth in other racial groups. About 50% of youth of color struggle with moderate to severe anxiety or depression. Dr. Alfiee does the research; she knows the numbers. She also knows that people are paying more attention to mental health care. That attention can bring help. And with help, there’s hope.