Mental Health In The Black Community Essay
It is no secret that mental health is often dismissed and ignored by the Black community.
"Depression is for White people." "Just pray about it." "There are people who have it much worse that you do." and the worst one, "Just think happy thoughts! :)" are all phrases that individuals struggling with anxiety, depression and other mental health problems are all extremely tired of hearing. The truth of the matter is, the stigma and refusal to talk about mental illness in the Black community is taking lives and preventing individuals from getting the treatment they need.
Facts about Mental Health in the Black Community:
6.8 million African Americans have been diagnosed with mental illness and that doesn't include those who are unwilling to seek help.
Adults in the Black community are more likely to have feelings of …show more content…
Check out Black Fold Don't Go to Therapy.
Stop looking at mental illness as weakness. Depression is a real chemical imbalance of the brain that causes sadness and affects how you feel and operate on a daily basis. Anxiety involves excessive fear and nervousness and can be extremely crippling. For a large amount of people within the Black community, society & the generations before us have taught us to suppress these feelings and innermost thoughts.
The stigma behind mental health in the Black community cannot be conquered until we're able to openly admit and be attentive to the fact that it exists.
To those fortunate enough to have never experienced mental illness: if you're not familiar with depression, anxiety or other mental illnesses or it's something you don't understand, recognize that if someone comes to you for help. Don't try to cure them because you can't. Don't make jokes about it because it's not funny. Don't treat it lightly or brush it off because it's serious. Be someone who supports and uplifts the ones you love during the times when they feel they have no
"Depression is for White people." "Just pray about it." "There are people who have it much worse that you do." and the worst one, "Just think happy thoughts! :)" are all phrases that individuals struggling with anxiety, depression and other mental health problems are all extremely tired of hearing. The truth of the matter is, the stigma and refusal to talk about mental illness in the Black community is taking lives and preventing individuals from getting the treatment they need.
Facts about Mental Health in the Black Community:
6.8 million African Americans have been diagnosed with mental illness and that doesn't include those who are unwilling to seek help.
Adults in the Black community are more likely to have feelings of …show more content…
Check out Black Fold Don't Go to Therapy.
Stop looking at mental illness as weakness. Depression is a real chemical imbalance of the brain that causes sadness and affects how you feel and operate on a daily basis. Anxiety involves excessive fear and nervousness and can be extremely crippling. For a large amount of people within the Black community, society & the generations before us have taught us to suppress these feelings and innermost thoughts.
The stigma behind mental health in the Black community cannot be conquered until we're able to openly admit and be attentive to the fact that it exists.
To those fortunate enough to have never experienced mental illness: if you're not familiar with depression, anxiety or other mental illnesses or it's something you don't understand, recognize that if someone comes to you for help. Don't try to cure them because you can't. Don't make jokes about it because it's not funny. Don't treat it lightly or brush it off because it's serious. Be someone who supports and uplifts the ones you love during the times when they feel they have no