Since 1949 in the U.S., May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month to highlight the importance of mental wellness. Millions of Americans face living with mental illness or behavioral health disorders every day. Some communities accept that mental illness are health problems that require treatment, but in other communities, such as the black community, there is a stigma that is all too common. This stigma can lead to a lack of support and empathy for those who experience mental illness. For them, they may be left feeling embarrassed that no one understands, and subsequently leading to improper care.
There’s much data out there regarding adults in the U.S. having mental health disorders and those receiving treatments, including alarming rates of suicide. Unfortunately, there’s been a significant rise in those numbers since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Even with all the data, there’s an awareness that mental health does not affect everyone in the same manner. While Americans share common causes of mental illness (i.e., unemployment/loss of job, physical health condition, childhood abuse, trauma), African Americans are faced with additional challenges such as systemic racism, discrimination, gun violence, & other traumatic stressors; including being unfairly policed, just to name a few. Regardless of the reason, receiving the necessary care and treatment is vital. Sadly, it is reported that only 1 in 3 AA adults who need care in this area receive it.
Additionally, statistics state that about 25% of AA’s seek mental health care, compared to 40% of whites. Why is there such a wide gap with this percentage? Let’s take a look for a moment.
If we start with the days of slavery, we discover that a physician named Dr. John Galt suggested that “blacks were immune to mental illness.” He believed slavery protected black Americans from some of the social dynamics of free life that caused mental excitement. Unfortunately, this way of thinking continued to be perpetuated. It was ultimately embraced by our African ancestry and passed down through the years, thus believing that the problem didn’t even exist within our culture. Another reason for the gap is that there is unequal access to health care. Numerous indicators account for health disparities among minority groups, from socioeconomic factors such as education to access preventative services such as cancer screenings. Unfortunately, some believe that mental health conditions are a sign of weakness & fear how others may perceive them. As an example, it is stated that as an adult, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. suffered from bouts of depression but kept it a closely held secret, believing that civil rights opponents would use it against him.
When we tell people that we’re going to the doctor for a physical health issue or we are talking with our pastor about a spiritual concern, there doesn’t seem to be a big issue with that. We’ve all done either or both. However, many eyebrows have been raised, especially in the black Christian community, when it comes to seeing a counselor or therapist for mental health. While in my early 20’s, when I first started battling depression, I tried to explain what I was going through to one of the “seasoned” mothers in the church. She responded that I needed to do “more.” Pray more, read my bible more, & become more active in the church. However, the few times I spoke w/ her, there was never mention of seeking out a professional. Maybe she just didn’t realize help in this area was available, or perhaps she simply believed that Jesus was all I needed. I am a believer, so I do not negate the power of prayer or the Word of God, but sometimes people need a professional to assist in processing their thoughts and feelings. Faith & therapy are not mutually exclusive, in my opinion. I believe that a person can have Jesus and therapy. I don’t know when the phrase Jesus and Therapy started, but it’s growing in popularity. People are using it as a hashtag and displaying it on apparel. It just brings more awareness to the subject & I’m all for that. I believe that God can choose to restore and heal a person immediately, without outside help, or He can choose other avenues like therapy and medicine. Fortunately, there is more awareness and acceptance within the black community, as prominent black pastors and celebrities publicly promote counseling and therapy. However, more work is needed.
We can all help bring more awareness to mental health in the following ways:
- Educating our family, friends, & coworkers about the challenges the black community faces.
- Being aware of stigmatizing language surrounding mental illness.
- Becoming more aware of our own beliefs and attitudes may lead to negative assumptions and biases.
Regardless of age, gender, religion, etc., the goal is to make sure there are resources available for everyone to receive help. If finances prevent individuals from seeking help, they can contact their local health or mental health clinic or local government to see what services they qualify for. Additionally, help can be found online at findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling the National Treatment Referral Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357). Also, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours/day at 800-273-8255.
Janet Downs is an instructor with over 20 years of experience, having worked with Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations. She volunteers and is a resource for the homeless community and is working towards starting her own non-profit. She’s passionate about mental health and seeks to bring more awareness to the black community. She is active in church ministry, a writer, and loves music, hiking, and travel.
