Black People and Mental Health Stigma

Black People and Mental Health Stigma
We’ll never get better, until we get ‘Better!’

by Marcinho Savant,
​Sun Staff Writer

www.beyondblackwhite.com

Lakeisha N. Holloway, 24, is in custody --- accused of killing one, and injuring dozens of others with her vehicle in the evening of Sunday night. In fact,the young lady has overcome homelessness caused by her mother as a freshman in high school. In Las Vegas only a short time, with her toddler in tow, she is accused of running people over, with her car. She is in jail, her child is in agency custody, and she is expected to be charged with murder, and auxiliary charges stemming from her vehicular
rampage.

As the investigation is ongoing, I will not speculate on the reasons for this sort of occurrence. As it is not the policy of this periodical to use conjecture in lieu of factual basis, vetting and journalistic integrity, I will not. That said, while awaiting the results of the inquiries --- I could scarcely resist the pressing message in my mind of mental health in the black community. Rest assured that The Sun is not endorsing any form of diagnosis of the accused, however, in my mind, it is a rational supposition. Could a person alleged to be guilty of such crimes, possibly be mentally ill?

In our community stigma paralyzes us, and steals from us much-needed, intervention, action, and assistance from coming into service in our lives. How often, in the church for example, have we heard whispers of words such as “The AIDS,” “The SUGAR,” “Pregnant,” and others? Most significant is the taboo of mental illness. We shy away from having open discourse concerning one of the most damning afflictions affecting black people. Largely because we refuse to speak on it. Hurt people, HURT people!

I have observed that many times people are aware that this person, or that person, isn’t quite “right,” and giggle about them among ourselves (and behind their back), seldom offering a hand of  encouragement, understanding, or facilitation of finding professional assistance.  Maybe it is because we do not understand the intensity, and severity of mental health, and that there are ways to help people --- even while having doubts.  We all seem to be quite adept at diagnosing mental health disorders in others ("he ain’t right,” “something wrong with him/her,” She’s ‘crazy’”), so we
can clearly detect problems.

Maybe it’s the money. Many of us cannot afford to pay for treatment, and fear that care is beyond
possibility because of our income. Fair enough. Help, however, is available.

Mental health among African-Americans is symptomatic, and near epidemic in some circles, exacerbated by unmanaged substance abuse problems, relationship troubles, and  undiagnosed mental health conditions, such as, Bipolar depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,
Schizophrenia, Suicidal Ideation, Multiple-personality disorder, low self-esteem, passive-aggression,
or a host of others. How can we get better when we refuse to speak its name?

Mental health challenges are not a character flaw. They are, often, a treatable, manageable
disease. Cancer is a disease. So is diabetes, gout, shingles, HIV, rickets, shin-splints, impetigo, toe fungus, and any other disease.  Until we talk about mental illness and face it, in spite of our fear and discomfort, we, as a people, will remain its least-resistant victims.

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​Mental Health America points out that “Historical adversity, which includes slavery, sharecropping and race-based exclusion from health, educational, social and economic resources, translates into socioeconomic disparities experienced by African Americans today. Socioeconomic status, in turn, is linked to mental health: People who are impoverished, homeless, incarcerated or have substance abuse problems are at higher risk for poor mental health.”

So there is causation behind the things that keep us wound so tightly, feeling hopeless, helpless, and afraid. Concerning prevalence, according to the US HHS Office of Minority Health:








•  Adult blacks are 20 percent more likely to report serious psychological distress than adult whites.
•  Adult blacks living below poverty are two to three times more likely to report serious psychological distress than those living above poverty.
•  Adult blacks are more likely to have feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness than are adult whites.
•  And while blacks are less likely than whites to die from suicide as teenagers, black teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide than are white teenagers (8.2 percent v. 6.3 percent)
•  African Americans of all ages are more likely to be victims of serious violent crime than non-Hispanic whites, making them more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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Mental illness is killing us, at all stages, and ages. Some lays dormant and then explodes violently, often harming innocent people. Also per Mental Health America’s statistics: “Historically, attitudinal barriers have led to roadblocks to accessing services and treatment."

In 1996, MHA commissioned a national survey on clinical depression. The survey explored the barriers preventing Americans seeking treatment and gauged overall knowledge of and attitudes toward depression.

​This survey revealed that:

•  63 percent of African Americans believe that depression is a personal weakness, this is significantly higher than the overall survey average of 54 percent.
•  Only 31 percent of African Americans believed that depression was a “health problem.”
•  African Americans were more likely to believe that depression was “normal” than the overall survey average.
•  56 percent believed that depression was a normal part of aging
•  45 percent believed it was normal for a mother to feel depressed for at least two weeks after giving birth
•  40 percent believed it was normal for a husband or wife to feel depressed for more than a year after the death of a spouse.

Barriers to the treatment of depression cited by African Americans included:
•  Denial (40 percent)
•  Embarrassment/shame (38 percent)
•  Don’t want/refuse help (31 percent)
•  Lack money/insurance (29 percent)
•  Fear (17 percent)
•  Lack knowledge of treatment/problem (17 percent)
•  Hopeless (12 percent)
•  African Americans were less likely to take an antidepressant for treatment of depression; only 34 percent would take one if it were prescribed by a doctor.

www.esawdilis.com

​So the facts are there.

The black community IS affected, significantly by mental illness, and can only benefit from treating the disease as we treat any other diseases which, as a community, we face.

People will resist the truth. Telling someone they are “crazy and need help” will probably not be well received. Stating that you have some real concerns about their well-being” might be a better way to face the topic. Face it, we must, and it is never too late. There are enough external things which horribly affect black people -- Things beyond our control (racism, abuse, poverty, and others). We ARE able, however, to face the “demon” we think of as “craziness,” recognize that is a treatable disease, and buckle down and get the help that is there for us. And it IS there for us.

Contact the National Alliance for Mental Health (Northwest Louisiana) in Shreveport, for referrals to local care options, and assistance. Please call them at (318) 813-2956.

Or get help by calling the National Treatment Referral Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).

We’ll never get better, until we get “Better”!

#BlackMentalHealthMatters!