Here’s Why We Need to Talk More About Black Mental Health
February is celebrated globally as Black History month and is a time of introspection, historical lessons, appreciation, and looking towards the future. Unfortunately, most Black history festivities usually exclude the community’s mental health issues. Mental health in the Black/African American community is often downplayed. When it can no longer be ignored, it is expected to stay in the family, or sufferers are told to “pray the pain away.” The Black community is disproportionately affected by heightened mental health illness due to their socio-economic environment. Even though the Black/African American community constitutes a mere 12% of the nation’s population, they are the demographic that significantly compromises the high-risk population. Of the most marginalized groups in society, the Blacks/African Americans make up approximately 40% of the homeless population, 50% of the prison population, and 45% of children in the foster care system, according to the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University. The research shows that exposure to violence, incarceration, and involvement in the foster care system increases the possibility of developing mental illness. These factors are directly linked to an increased rate of mental health concerns, including extreme cases of anxiety and depression. Barriers To Mental Health Wellness How the Black/African American community combats health is lacking due to several factors. For one, there is a significant disparity in access to adequate healthcare within the Black community and also a lack of education on the effects of mental health. Moreover, the lack of representation in the psychology field is s major determining factor in whether a Black/African American individual seeks help for mental illness. According to American Psychological Association, only a paltry 4% of the physiology workforce comprises Black clinicians. With such a low number, hesitation to seek psychiatric and physiological treatment is rampant. While race has no bearing on professional acumen, psycom.net highlights studies showing that patients who align or relate well with their practitioner do better than those that aren’t. The view is not that non-black psychologists and psychiatrists are inept. However, African Americans believe that non-black clinicians do not truly grasp the extent of their issues, which can also lead to misdiagnosis. A new study conducted by Rutgers University posted on Science Daily proved that African-Americans with severe depression are more likely to be misdiagnosed as having schizophrenia. Not only does the Black community fear and suffer from misdiagnosis, but a history of medical malpractice compounds the fear of seeking professional healthcare for mental ailments. When it’s not the historical fear passed down from generation to generation, the cost of healthcare and the inequity in access to adequate health insurance further exacerbate the already deadly situation. Some Solutions For there to be any change in the approach to mental health, it must start at the very foundation. Families need to encourage children to express their emotions healthily, thus kickstarting the eradication of the stigma. Most importantly, Black children need to be encouraged and exposed to the healthcare industry as a viable career choice. This can be accomplished through programs such as Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program. Even if the other stumbling blocks are negated, representation is still the most crucial factor keeping African Americans away from therapy sessions. The balk experience is unique, and bedside manners just won’t suffice.
