Bossing UP

The thing about Mental Illness is that it does not always manifest through symptoms that can be measured or observed. Mental illness can be defined as a condition that affects thinking, feeling, and/or behavior. While these are things that cannot really be seen, I think it is safe to say that we have all experienced negative thoughts and emotions, and we know them to be real. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), almost 1 in 5 adults in the U.S live with a

mental illness. NIMH estimates that this year alone, over 6.8 black Americans have been diagnosed with a mental illness.

When it comes to the black community, there are several things that make a challenging issue even more problematic. Firstly, there is the issue of acknowledging and understanding that mental health is a legitimate, and treatable, condition. In the same way that one cannot simply will away a physical illness, mental illness is something that should be dealt with the help of a mental health professional. I have often heard people suggest that a condition like depression, for

example, is something one can just get over and push through. Resilience is a great quality, and it can certainly serve as a tool to get through a difficult situation, but it is not a treatment plan. I have heard, on multiple occasions, this notion that certain illnesses or disorders do not affect black people; like eating disorders for example. This is simply not true and it is a mentality that needs to change.

On a day-to-day basis, many black people are dealing with systemic and personal racism, microaggressions, as well as poverty and all the consequences of it. For instance, as stated by the National Alliance for Mental Health , black children are more likely to be exposed to violence,

and black people account for about 40% of the homeless population. The department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health further emphasizes this fact in stating that Black Americans are 20 percent more likely to report serious psychological distress when compared to whites. Several factors increase the risk of developing mental illness among black Americans, but what is especially troubling about this is the fact that as a community, we are less likely to address mental health.

There is a stigma that exists in the black community such that mental illness is often viewed as suggesting that one is crazy or weak, or perhaps as something that can be endured or be addressed privately. In recent years various celebrities like Kid Cudi, Mariah Carey, and Gucci Mane have worked to normalize mental illness by talking about their struggles. Earlier this year in an interview with CNN, as described here by Refinery29, Jay-Z talked about his own struggles and the need to eliminate the mental health stigma in black communities. Slowly but surely we are becoming more open about mental health, but we still have work to do. We must continue to educated ourselves, talk openly about our struggles, and seek help. In order to promote mental health and wellness, we must work to destigmatize mental illness.

Seeking help through a mental health professional does not mean that you must abandon the resources within your community. There is room for your values and cultural beliefs within the context of therapy. One of the challenges black people face in treatment is the lack of Black/African American practitioners within the field. American Psychological Association (APA) reports that Black/African Americans represent only 5.3% of the psychology workforce while white people account for almost 84%. This means that often times the people offering services are white and that can be difficult for black patients in many ways. On a positive note, the APA also reports that the number of black therapists continues to grow, but in the meantime black people should not be afraid to seek help.

Finding a therapist can be a tough. You must find the right fit all the while being vulnerable, and sometimes that requires a process of trial and error. One of the ways to tackle this problem is to seek a culturally competent practitioner. Do not be afraid to ask questions related to racial, cultural, and even class differences in order to gauge whether or not you will be heard and understood. A good therapist, regardless of race, should be both respectful and curious about your cultural beliefs and values. There are several efforts that have yet to be made in order to make treatment accessible and affordable for people of color, but in the meantime we can start by working to normalize mental illness. In doing so we prevent further health complications, while also improving the way we function and engage with the world on a daily basis.

--D.N.