The Black community has experienced a double-edged sword when it comes to our health and wellness. Since the early days of slavery, we’ve often struggled with having to survive and most notably, pull ourselves up by the bootstraps. This limiting way of thinking has resulted in us having to suppress our emotions and oftentimes rejecting the help of others that want to support us. Being Black in America has resulted in us having no choice but to put our mental health needs last and our survival first, which has created the ongoing suffering, anguish and strife our ancestors once experienced.
As we continue to navigate an ongoing pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 800,000 Americans within the past year, the Black community now faces another pandemic, where mental health disparities are now higher than ever before. According to Shevaun Neupert, the co-author of a COVID-19 study and a professor at North Carolina State University, the pandemic is taking a toll on Black Americans as opposed to their white counterparts.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted system inequities that place Black adults at greater risk of adverse health outcomes,” Neupert said. “The stress of the pandemic appears to be placing a greater burden on Black Americans.”
With Black Americans already at high risk for other imperative health complications, we must find outlets for us to utilize that can help reduce the stress and burdens that come with everyday life. Below is a list of resources available for you and your loved ones.
1. Black Therapists Rock
Based in Washington, D.C., Black Therapists Rock is a resource for victims dealing with racial trauma. With a motto of “reversing racial trauma through collective healing," Black Therapists Rock helps identify the leading causes of mental health disparities for marginalized communities that stem from experiencing racism and discrimination in America. The healing collective helps to identify the root of suffering many Black Americans experience who often believe that they have to heal by themselves — Black Therapists Rock is combating this narrative by offering educational resources for the Black community.
2. Therapy for Black Men
Toxic masculinity has infiltrated the Black community through a plethora of limiting beliefs, narratives and behaviors that have made Black men more susceptible to experiencing ongoing mental health issues. Oftentimes, Black men are told that they have to suppress their emotions while also having to hold the weight of the world on their shoulders. Therapy for Black Men builds up Black men by shedding old ways of being that are no longer serving them. Ranging from 150 therapists and 30 coaches, the organization provides help for building healthier relationships, habits and confidence-boosting resources that provide loving care for those struggling.
3. Black Mental Wellness
Founded by clinical psychologists, Black Mental Wellness recognizes the importance of mental health by creating a diverse range of specialized training that addresses concerns specific to the Black community. The organization provides workshops, culturally sensitive resources and mentorship training programs that are set to establish meaningful connections surrounding mental health disparities.
4. Therapy for Black Kids
Used as a resource to help parents better parent their children, Therapy for Black Kids is a mental health organization that helps to tackle misconceptions surrounding mental health. Founded by Dr. Earl Turner during the midst of the racism pandemic of 2020, Dr. Turner felt that Black kids and teens were put on the backburner from mental health conversations. Therapy for Black Kids was one of the ways Turner wanted to help bring about change through interconnectedness and difficult conversations.
5. Therapy for Black Girls
For centuries, Black women, in particular, have faced a double-edged sword when it comes to their healing. Oftentimes, Black women are ignored when it comes to receiving help and support from the world, especially within the scope of mental health. Therapy for Black Girls is a trusted platform that provides mental health experts that know and understand the many disparities that come with life as a Black woman. Founded by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist, and host of the podcast Therapy for Black Girls, Harden has created an online space for Black women to feel safe and supported during tumultuous times.
Mental health within the Black community has often been put under the rug, resulting in an uprise of mental health issues that include depression, suicide and/or suicidal thoughts, anxiety, PTSD and others. As we try to navigate an ongoing pandemic, we must continue to support one another in all the ways we can. If you or someone you know is deeply struggling with mental health and/or suicidal thoughts, please utilize the above resources or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline and The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline here.
