Creating a Community of Black Mental Health
Written by Counslr counselor Diamond M. Thaxton, LMHC
The state of mental health in the Black community is at a crisis point, and it’s time that America treated it as such. Black Americans are far less likely to seek mental health care than White Americans: 40% of White Americans seek mental health treatment compared to just 25% of Black Americans.¹ Consequently, many Black Americans suffer in silence without the resources needed to help them achieve optimal mental wellness.² One major contributing factor is there simply aren’t enough Black therapists. In fact, less than 5% of all therapists are Black.³ In addition, access to affordable mental health services is challenging, creating yet another barrier often preventing Black Americans from seeking or receiving help.
The world has watched racial trauma unfold in America, and a heightened sense of awareness has arisen after the George Floyd murder and the many other deaths that have followed. Still, the Black community constantly continues to experience ongoing racial trauma and reinforcement of generational trauma. In addition, there are also the effects of microaggression that Black Americans often face. These indirect, subtle, and often unintentional putdowns can add to the already strained mental health of Black Americans. Black youth are suffering the most; nearly 65% of Black youth report traumatic experiences.⁴ It is critical that Black youth receive mental health interventions to help mitigate the symptoms of racial trauma, so they can flourish and cultivate healthy resilience into adulthood.
A major obstacle to Black Americans’ access to mental health support is the misconception that Black Americans resist mental health treatment due to its stigmatization within the Black community. Although the stigma of mental healthcare does still exist today in many communities, including Black communities, mental health was embedded in indigenous African cultures. Sickness in the indigenous African worldview is not only an imbalance in the body, but also an imbalance in the social life, which can be linked to a breakdown in one’s kinship and family relations or even to one’s relationship with one’s ancestors. Many of the concepts in positive psychology are already pillars in indigenous African cultures. Black communities should continue to embrace mental health as an important component of their history and culture, and the resources to make that possible should be accessible.
Fortunately, therapists of all colors are stepping up their cultural competency to meet the needs of Black Americans who are struggling with their mental health. Therapists are digging in deeper about their conscious and unconscious biases of the Black community, reflecting on their own experiences with power and oppression in America, and identifying their privilege. The connection between being a therapist and being an ally are vital to bringing effective therapy to the Black community. Author Robin DiAngelo explores this in her book White Fragility, in which she addresses the quest for culturally competent mental health care for the Black community. DiAngelo argues that many White Americans are uncomfortable with racism and will avoid talking about it, which is the exact behavior that perpetuates the underlying issues; only by educating oneself and listening to others can our society at large begin to dismantle the systems that continue to cause harm to the Black community, both in general and with respect to its members’ mental health.⁵
To help improve the state of mental health care in the Black community, you can be mindful that you are creating an environment of inclusion for Black Americans seeking support. Marketing materials can be made to feature Black faces practicing mental health interventions proven to be beneficial to the Black community. In the workplace, employers should ensure their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B) initiatives encourage Black employees to make use of the mental health services available to them, and offer support groups dedicated to their interest. In the world more broadly, community mental health providers must be sure that they are meeting Black Americans in their communities, making themselves accessible and sharing psychoeducation on subjects that matter most to them.
There is an unmet need for mental health care among Black Americans due to underrepresentation, racial trauma, and biases towards the Black community. Creating a culturally competent mental health care system requires us all to confront our biases and acknowledge our privilege. Mental health is an integral part of Black history and culture, and we should do our part to ensure that Black Americans have access to resources in order to keep it that way.
References
McLean Hospital. “Black Mental Health: What You Need To Know.” Mass General Brigham, McLean, 2023. Accessed 22 February, 2023. https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/black-mental-health.
Alang, Sirry M. “Mental Health Care Among Blacks in America: Confronting Racism and Constructing Solutions.” Health Services Research, vol. 54, no. 2, 2019, pp. 346–355., https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13115.
O’Malley, Lisa. “Addressing the Lack of Black Mental Health Professionals.” Insight Into Diversity, 2021. Accessed 22 February, 2023. https://www.insightintodiversity.com/addressing-the-lack-of-black-mental-health-professionals/.
Roberts, A. L., et al. “Race/Ethnic Differences in Exposure to Traumatic Events, Development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Treatment-Seeking for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the United States.” Psychological Medicine, vol. 41, no. 1, 2010, pp. 71–83., https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291710000401.
Waldman, Katy. “A Sociologist Examines the ‘White Fragility’ That Prevents White Americans From Confronting Racism.” The New Yorker, 2018. Accessed 22 February, 2023. https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/a-sociologist-examines-the-white-fragility-that-prevents-white-americans-from-confronting-racism.
About Counslr
Counslr is a text-based mental health support application that is designed to reach the otherwise unreachable population with an affordable, remote, and instant solution to access fully licensed mental health professionals whenever and wherever help is needed. Electronic mental health services have emerged as an effective solution and text-based support in particular, provides the anonymity, convenience and early intervention efficacy that both counselors endorse and users demand. Counslr’s unrivaled accessibility allows users to address mild symptoms in a timely manner before they evolve into more severe issues, which is a crucial step in overall preventative mental health care today.
The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and should not be attributed to Counslr, Inc., its partners, its employees, or any other mental health professionals Counslr employs. You should review this information and any questions regarding your specific circumstances with a medical professional. The content provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as counseling, therapy, or professional medical advice.
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