by Emmanuel Young
South Jersey Information Equity Project
May marks Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S. when people take time to address issues related to their and others’ mental health.
Black mental health is one of many medical topics that is apparent in the black community. With the growing amount of resources being accessible, specialists can treat mental health more significantly.
Despite this, some do not know about or use these resources due to being ill-informed or stigmas regarding the subject. These come from 5 common issues regarding mental health care.
One such issue is the cost; many believe that speaking with a professional therapist or counselor requires a large sum if their insurance providers do not cover it. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, 10.4% of African Americans in the U.S. are uninsured by any service.
Because of this, they seek out other individuals and activities to replace this. People of the faith, such as Pastors, Priests, and Imams, aid and guide those who come to them. Due to their knowledge of their religion and practices, they counsel their members when needed and make excellent people to talk to.
However, other people, such as coaches and support groups, can make good counselors for those seeking aid. Many people, especially young teens, say that school activities, whether sports, arts, or leadership programs, are things teenagers do to improve their skills and mental health.
Support groups allow those to speak about their problems and concerns in a safe environment with others who may be in their position, such as military veterans suffering PTSD or domestic violence victims.
Second is the negative stigma toward therapy. Some look down on it and even fear talking about their problems to strangers. Some negative sayings, like “We people don’t do therapy” or “ I don’t feel comfortable talking about it,” cause some people to avoid going to a professional due to discrimination or embarrassment from ridicule for speaking with someone unfamiliar.
The third common occurrence is finding the right therapist or counselor. For some, seeking a therapist is similar to finding a job because they want to be sure they pick the right person. Many people seek therapists of similar ethnicity or gender since they feel more comfortable talking about topics that may relate to them.
New Jersey has many therapists who can be found using search engine sites such as PsychologyToday.com. These sites allow users to look up and review professional therapists and find out how to contact them, whether virtual or in person.
Fourth is Education, as people do not fully understand the complexity of mental health. Some believe that mental illness is a sign of personal weakness. Because of this, many cases go undiagnosed or mistreated as something that is not serious.
Without proper care, this could lead to alcoholism, drugs, and bodily harm to themselves or others. People should take time out of their day to learn of the signs of depression, anxiety, PTSD, or Phobias.
Community leaders and organizations occasionally hold seminars and workshops and invite professionals to be panelists to discuss topics and solutions. Most information about these events can be found on local community websites or social media pages.
Fifth is the black community’s distrust of Healthcare as a whole. The community has a history of distrusting the healthcare system due to historical controversies that date back to the era of slavery. It caused some to be wary of seeking help from doctors and counselors for fear of being misdiagnosed or put on medicine that may not be helpful.
Despite this, more doctors and specialists work in the community to establish deeper relationships with the residents.
As the month continues, people should take some time to address their mental state and learn more about how they can help themselves and others.
This story was produced as part of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University’s South Jersey Information Equity Project fellowship and supported with funding from the Independence Public Media Foundation.
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