Its OK not to be OK. This is the mantra behind Unmasked Women , an art exhibition exploring the current state of black mental health for young women in the United Kingdom. Nicole Krystal Crentsil , a 24-year-old assistant project manager from north London, was inspired to put together the show, frustrated by the lack of resources available to young women when they need it most.

Theres this expectation of black women to be behind or come last , artist Simone Leigh recently said in an interview with Artsy. The cycle is abhorrent. Black women are subject to innumerable instances of institutionalized racism and sexism every day that undoubtably lead to anxiety and depression, including but not limited to workplace discrimination, police brutality and mass incarceration.

Furthermore, there is a long medical history of black womens pain being overlooked and ignored, leading women of color to minimize their own mental health struggles instead of working to resolve them. As a result, in black communities, there is a stigma surrounding the need for outside assistance , and a lack of cultural awareness about what resources are available.