{"id":547,"date":"2022-05-18T06:45:46","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T06:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtch.com\/?p=547"},"modified":"2025-05-13T22:07:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T02:07:01","slug":"55","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mtch.com\/de\/single-trust-and-safety\/55\/","title":{"rendered":"Hinge Announces New \u201cMental Health Advocates of Tomorrow\u201d Fund to Expand Therapy Access for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Daters"},"content":{"rendered":"

The $100,000 fund will help cover the cost of education for future therapists who are committed to supporting underrepresented communities.<\/p>\n

NEW YORK, May 18, 2022 – (NASDAQ: MTCH)<\/strong>\u00a0This May, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Hinge is announcing an industry-first fund to ensure future daters from LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities have access to empathetic therapists who can help them build healthy relationships. The fund will give ten aspiring therapists and counselors $10,000 each to help cover the cost of their education.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s difficult for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ people to find mental health support from providers who understand their lived experiences. In fact, the\u00a0Trevor Project<\/a>\u00a0found that nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth aren\u2019t receiving mental health care due to concerns around a provider\u2019s LGBTQIA+ competence and compassion. Additionally, only one in four mental health counselors are people of color, according to the\u00a0U.S. Bureau of Labor<\/a>. Hinge is on a mission to change that.<\/p>\n

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To promote \u201cMental Health Advocates of Tomorrow,\u201d Hinge is teaming up with multidisciplinary artist and mental health champion, Fariha R\u00f3is\u00edn. Author of the forthcoming HarperWave book, \u201cWho Is Wellness For? An Examination of Wellness Culture and Who it Leaves Behind\u201d, Fariha\u2019s work focuses on highlighting accessible resources for marginalized communities. Hinge is excited to work alongside and learn from Fariha, who, as the campaign ambassador, will spread awareness of the initiative across the wellness community and help select the ten winners.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo many marginalized folks are wrestling with trauma, shame, lack of resources, and isolation. A lot don\u2019t even trust therapists and I can\u2019t blame them,\u201d says Fariha R\u00f3is\u00edn. \u201cThese times can be really dark and overwhelming in a lot of ways and that\u2019s why we need mental health advocates. This initiative is helping people become the light bearers, creating generational ripple effects of healing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hinge is also proud to be receiving the expert support from\u00a0Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective: BEAM<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Inclusive Therapists<\/a>\u00a0who will be helping further amplify the campaign within their own communities to ensure it reaches eligible, aspiring future advocates who are most deserving of this opportunity.<\/p>\n

How to Apply:<\/p>\n