Mental Health in the Black Community
This month we celebrate black history! We honor the accomplishments, the remarkable acts, and the heroic efforts of those who came before us. But, we didn’t get here without experiencing years of trauma and hardships. I hear so often from my clients that they know so many friends and family that could benefit from therapy, but just won’t go. Mental health issues don’t discriminate. My hope and part of my mission as a therapist is for us to have more conversations about how we feel and the importance of mental health in the black community.
There are many myths and ‘rules’ about why black people don’t seek therapy or reject the idea of therapy all together. Our families can shape much of how we operate as adults and navigate the world. We learn pretty early 'the rules’ about how things work. Recently, I have worked with a lot of clients who are processing some of the messages they have learned from family.
“Our business is our business, and it doesn’t leave this house.”
“Pray about it.”
“Only crazy people need counseling.”
“Man up!”
“Figure it out yourself.”
In the black community, faith has always been a major part of healing. Faith continues to remain a pillar, but there are times when it may not feel like enough. Unwavering loyalty to family and strict boundaries around privacy have also been important rules in black family systems.
I have witnessed my clients gain relief when they recognize that these rules may have been necessary for survival at one point, but are no longer necessary in their present lives. The stigma around caring for your own needs and acknowledging your emotions can create issues in other areas. Some of my clients struggle with:
Acknowledging when they feel hurt or pain
Building trust and forming relationships
Feeling cut off from their emotions because talking about feelings was never allowed at home
Creating new systems for their own family
Therapy is a helpful space to work through these issues.
So what is therapy and how can it be beneficial?
I think of therapy as a place to unpack the things that we have a hard time carrying on our own. It is a safe space to say things that you may not feel comfortable saying to anyone else. Therapy creates an opportunity to build a relationship with a non-judgmental person who may be able to offer more insight and direction than a friend or family member can. Starting the conversation may be scary or it may feel uncomfortable, but our mental health is worth it. Whenever you are ready to connect, reach out to any one of our counselors for more information.
Authored by: Lakeita Roberts, LPC