Wellness and Black mental health are two critical issues that society often avoids discussing, despite their increasing prominence and impact on Black and Brown communities. According to the National Alliance on mental illness, 1 and 5 adults live with mental illness in the United States. In People of color (POC) who often lack access to appropriate mental health resources, the number is even higher. Which is a central aspect of the conversation about mental health and wellness in Black and Brown communities. Health care disparities are evident even withiin affluent Black and Brown communities, where individuals frequently report that they are not offered the same mental health services as their white counterparts. POC may be mistreated, misinformed, or provided with inadequate resources for both mental health and overall health care.
As a clinician of color who primarily works with people of color, I have observed that many clients approach therapy with limited knowledge about available resources and a lack of understanding of what therapy entails. Often, POC view therapy through a lens of stigma. Based on my experience in many Black and Brown communities, there is a pervasive belief that seeking help for challenges such as anxiety, depression, and trauma is unnecessary, and as a result, these issues often go unaddressed.
For instance, some individuals fear that seeing a therapist might lead to being institutionalized or labeled as “less than.” When working with clients of color, I emphasize prioritizing wellness and mental health is essential for overcoming such fears. Engaging in therapy and self-care is a vital first step, followed by consistency and regularity, which are crucial components in achieving the desired therapeutic outcomes. Dr. Rheeda Walker a clinical psychologist from Florida State University. (Walker, 2023) emphasizes the need to shift the way mental health is viewed in Black and Brown communities, stating, “We need to shift how we think about protecting our minds so that we can be successful in schools and work, but also navigate the threats through those things” (Walker, 2023). Dr. Walker highlights a major issue in Black and Brown communities: untreated anxiety, depression, and trauma among African American adults. She advocates for a shift in how mental health is approached, acknowledging the considerable stigma and resistance to discussing mental health within these communities. As I progressed in my clinical practice and research, my perspective evolved. I began to ask myself, “How can I help?” and “What can I do to support individuals who are often misrepresented?” Personal experiences with mental health within my own family made me realize the importance of addressing mental health in a new way. It became clear that there is a need to help communities that are underrepresented in mental health conversations, empowering individuals to become more aware and resilient when confronting mental health stigma.
Stigma surrounding mental health within Black and Brown populations is shaped by cultural perceptions, societal expectations, and historical experiences. These factors create unique barriers to seeking mental health care.
Negative stereotypes from society about Black and Brown individuals can exacerbate these misunderstandings, leading to a reluctance to discuss or seek help for mental health concerns (Ahad, Gonzalez, Junquera, 2023). Historical experiences of racism, oppression, and trauma have significantly influenced how mental health is perceived in Black communities. Systemic discrimination has led to internalized stigma, where Black and Brown individuals may feel compelled to present themselves as strong and resilient, even in the face of mental health struggles. This pressure to remain strong can discourage individuals from seeking psychiatric help (Ahad, González, Junquera, 2023).
Additionally, the review emphasizes a deep mistrust of mental health services within Black communities due to the historical exploitation and mistreatment of Black individuals by healthcare institutions. This mistrust, rooted in past discriminatory practices, including the infamous Tuskegee syphilis experiment, leads to hesitance in seeking psychiatric care. Black individuals may fear receiving culturally insensitive or discriminatory treatment from mental health professionals (Ahad, González, Junquera, 2023).
Mental health symptoms in Black individuals may manifest differently from Western norms (Ahad, Gonzalez, Junquera, 2023). For example, depression in Black and Brown people often express anger or irritability, which may be misunderstood by mental health providers. Additionally, cultural norms within the Black and Brown community may discourage open conversations about emotional distress, leading to mental health issues being suppressed or overlooked (Ahad, González, Junquera, 2023).
Lastly, the review discusses how stigma contributes to reluctance to seek help, which in turn exacerbates mental health problems. (Ahad, González, Junquera, 2023). To address these challenges, the research recommends increasing cultural sensitivity in mental health services, involving community leaders to reduce stigma, and integrating culturally relevant healing practices alongside conventional psychiatric care. By tackling these issues, better mental health outcomes for Black and Brown individuals can be achieved (Ahad, Gonzalez, Junquera, 2023). As a clinician of color my experience is POC will often associate the stigma of mental health as a way to not access the mental health services that they need and deserve. The hopes of Shedding Light on Mental Health for POC will help to redirect the narrative and change their perspective to access their mental health care needs in a healthy and effective way.
REFERENCE:
- Ahad, M., Gonzalez, M. A., & Junquera, J. (2023). Understanding and addressing mental health stigma across cultures for improving psychiatric care: A narrative review. Cureus, 15(5), e39549. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39549
- Walker, R. (2023). The unapologetic guide to Black mental health. [New Harbinger Publications].
