By Nicole Cammack, Ph.D., Black Mental Wellness, Corp.
When evaluating black mental health, it is essential to recognize the impact of deep historical and systemic factors, including racism. The history of blacks in the United States began to be stripped of everything familiar, including family, land, weather, quality of life, language, ceremonies, food and freedom. Ironically, these are also some of the key components for healing that suppliers can evaluate and collaborate with customers to incorporate, when dealing with mental health through a cultural lens.
Black Americans are more likely to experience mental health concern and less likely to receive treatment, according to Federal. SUBSTANCE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE DATA. This is worrying like Suicide rates in the black community Continue increasing. In addition, research suggests that chronic experiences of racial stress and traum connected to higher rates of anxiety, depression and trauma.
Finally, black Americans find barriers for mental health treatment, including limited access to quality services and is more likely to be erroneously diagnosed, which leads to an ineffective treatment. There is also a lack of diversity among suppliers such as Only 5% of therapists are black. Collectively, these factors can alienate black people to feel safe and affirmed in the therapeutic environment.
Despite these gaps, black mental health cannot be suspended while the field works to improve its deficiencies. Healing work must continue, in our terms and within our communities, taking advantage of the strengths that have always sustained us.
Cultivating black mental well -being
“Taking care of myself is not self -complacency, it is self -preservation, and that is an act of political war.”
“Audre Lorde.”
Here are some ways to practice mental well -being:
Mental health treatment
Books
- “Curative stress workbook for black adolescents”
- “Decolonization therapy”
- “Post traumatic slave syndrome”
Websites
Community events
- Black Mental Welfare Day
It focuses on radically dreaming a culture of care, healing a racial trauma, empowering black men and growing resilience. - Black Mental Welfare Conference
Emphasize the importance of being able to heal during these emotionally challenging times.
Traditional healing practices
- Cleaning ceremonies
- Spiritual baths
- Aromatherapy
Motion
Mind-body connection
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Drum
- Meditation
- Prayer
Creativity
- Art
- Fashion
- Music
- Writing
- Cook/bake
- Spoken word
Happiness
- Reflect on what brings you joy and do it
Restorative practices
- Take breaks, a nap or time not programmed to decompress and restart (see The Ministry of Siesta)
Nature
- Hiking
- Gardening
- Sitting outside
- Ground connection exercises how to stand with your feet in the grass
Community well -being
- Healing circles
- Group therapy
- Barbershops/beauty salons
- Spiritual communities
“We are injured individually but heals in the community.”
-Dr. Frances Adomako
Activism as self -preservation
- Organization
- Donation
- Uploading on the first line of a demonstration
For a time when others seek to try to redefine our history, our identity and what we mean for this world, protecting their mental health is self -preservation. Claiming our narration and reconnecting with our sources of strength is a testimony of resilience, self -esteem and critic for black mental health in the United States.
