I don't keep it a secret that I suffer from a mental illness. After years of struggling with erratic behavior, extreme anxiety and depression, I was formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder a few years ago. My journey has had a happy outcome. I have a therapist, a psychiatrist and some very supportive people in my life. However, that doesn't mean all of this wasn't a struggle, and isn't a continuing struggle in the black community.
African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population. On the other side of that, we are some of the least likely to seek help. In the black community we are taught to be strong against all odds and to stand up and fight. Men are taught to be hyper-masculine, while women are taught to be chaste and submissive, while simultaneously being taught to carry the weight and stand up no matter the circumstances. So, when you cry and are depressed for apparently no reason, you're more often times than not told to suck it up, be strong and just keep pushing, without little or no real interest into what the problem is stemming from.
African Americans are also more likely to experience conditions that cause mental health issues. We make up 40 percent of the homeless population, and we are more likely to be exposed to violence, which can lead to anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.
With all these factors, you also have to think about the African American community as a whole. We're a very faith based and family oriented community. Therefore, instead of seeking out a mental health professional, we rely on faith and family to get us through these rough times—which can be good or bad depending on where your family stands on the topic of mental health. My family was one that always told me to pray instead of admitting that I needed more than prayer to help me with what was going on inside my head. Faith can be a great thing to have, however we need to seek professional help because sometimes prayer isn't the answer. Also talking to your family could be great, however if they don't want to acknowledge a problem, or don't understand mental health, then they won't be the best source for support.
Another problem? Socio-economic status. Before 2012, only 12 percent of African Americans had health insurance. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, those numbers have risen and continue to rise! Therapists are expensive, and without insurance, instead of paying $25 for an hour long session, I'd be paying $200. Luckily, there are also many hotlines you can call and they will talk to you as long as needed. They have professional help on standby, and countless free clinics offer free mental health services.
You get the nerve to try to find a therapist, but something else is stopping you from going through with it—the fact that you distrust healthcare professionals due to discrimination and mistreatment you've seen other African Americans face. Been there, done that. Honestly, a lot of non-POC doctors don't have a clue about certain health issues that mostly affect the African American community. Solution: seek out an African American therapist/psychiatrist. This can also be a daunting task. Only 3.7 percent of the members of the American Psychiatric Association are African American, and a meager 1.5 percent of the American Psychological Association are African American. In a nutshell, it's hard to find help when dealing with a mental health issue, but the task seems even more daunting when you're black.
We need to open up the conversation in the African American community about mental health, let our peers know that we're here, and even if we don't understand, we will help. You don't have to suffer in silence.
Here are some resources:
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): Sharing Hope: An African American Guide to Mental Health
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
