Black and Traumatized

A deep dive into the stigma of therapy and mental health in the Black community

Mia Knox

To begin, the question that is presented is clear Where does this stigma come from? The answer is complex, yet it boils down to three key aspects, the first being generational ideals and inherited trauma in the Black community. Everyone is aware of the horrendous treatment of people of color throughout the history of the United States, particularly African Americans. Evidently, years of historical adversity such as slavery, segregation and discrimination- which is still more common than one might think- have had extremely negative effects on the community as a whole. Despite this, many fail to consider the mental and emotional toll it has taken on them and how it is still present in the way many Black people live their lives. A specific effect of such harsh treatment has caused many African Americans to become desensitized. In layman's terms, most Black people harbor the “it is what it is” mentality and usually do not address the mental or physical strain that they experience because they believe that the stress and pain is normal According to an article released by the National Alliance on Mental Illness

Despite the rising acknowledgement and acceptance of mental health issues, people of color, specifically African Americans, oftentimes do not receive proper treatment for such matters due to the stigma that surrounds mental health and therapy in the black community.

(N.A.M.I),“Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress, …Despite the need, only one in three Black adults who need mental health care receive it.” This article reveals that though Black people suffer from negative emotions at a higher rate they do not receive proper treatment and mental health care.s This is due to the fact that mental health issues are normalized among African Americans, but not in the way that they should be. In other words, Black people think of disorders such as anxiety and depression as a part of everyday life instead of an actual problem that requires attention and assistance.Furthermore, the same article reveals: “One study of showed that 63% of Black people believe that a mental health condition is a sign of personal weakness.” (FACT) This just goes to show that people in the Black people have not only been wired to disregard their mental health issues, but also to feel shame in acknowledging and treating them.

The stigma of mental health in the Black community can also stem from prejudice and fear. African Americans have a history of facing discrimination across the country in both profession and social environment But there is also discrimination and bias within America's healthcare system Despite new acts and amendments that prohibit or discourage bigotry in the healthcare system, many African Americans still face issues today There is consistent racial bias and studies even report that half of medical students and residents have held false beliefs about biological differences between white and black patients (Hoffman 2016). These instances have caused a general mistrust for medical professionals and this also plays in effect in conversations on mental health and getting treatment. As reported by the American Psychological Association (A.P.A), as of 2018, 84% of therapists/people who specialize in psychology in America are white. This lack of diversity makes it even more difficult for African Americans to be willing to give therapy a chance because they are at a higher risk of being discriminated against or not being understood because of lack of cultural similarities. This brings up the issue of misdiagnosis and misinterpretation of African Americans. As someone who struggles with diagnosed anxiety and has had a mix of different therapists, I can attest to the fact that it is hard to find one that you are comfortable with, let alone one that you can relate to. Many African Americans would feel more comfortable if there were more therapists of color available since it is hard to open up to someone who cannot relate in any way to some of the struggles that you might disclose. If the therapist or psychiatrist is not Black, they might misinterpret some things that are said in a session because they may fail to realize the cultural divergence between them and the patient. Ultimately, it is hard to give an accurate diagnosis to a person whose life and experiences are so different from yours. Simply put, ignorance and lack of cultural awareness may result in false diagnoses or inadequate treatment of Black people. This actuality only magnifies the stigma that many African Americans harbor towards the concept of recognizing mental health issues and therapy.

Lastly, poor circumstances and lack of resources are a significant catalyst for this stigma in the Black community. Many low income neighborhoods, including the ones that are majority POC, struggle with circumstances such as a lack of steady forms of income, overcrowded housing, and single guardian households. There is also the topic of discrepancies of income in the labor force and the contrast between minorities and white people. Per an article by the Economic Policy institute “in 2019, the median Black household earned just 61 cents for every dollar of income the median white household earned,” This demonstrates that even if many Black people in these underfunded areas are able to maintain a steady job, a lot of the time they aren’t even getting compensated to the degree that most White people are. These conditions are a stark contrast to people who live in privileged communities, which are generally more concentrated with White people. Upper class individuals typically don't have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from. If they have many people in their home, most times they can afford to provide for their large families at a consistent rate. When finances are limited and one has to choose between feeding themselves and getting therapy, the choice is a clear one. It's also the idea that disadvantaged communities don’t normally have proper resources to treat severities like mental illnesses because they can't afford it. Treatment plans, consistent therapy, prescription, as well as learning about mental illness takes money and time. Time that could be used elsewhere. Undoubtedly, this blatant juxtaposition between privileged and unprivileged communities is a clear motive behind the stigma revolving around mental illnesses in the Black community.

So how can we get rid of this stigma? Although this problem will involve making some personal changes within the black community, there are numerous things that can be done by others in society to make the change easier. For one, the root of the issue stems from the heinous treatment of African Americans along with the offensive and oppressive qualities still present within the system. Most black people would not feel as opposed to therapy as they do if they were treated as equal to everyone else and offered the same opportunities. Equally important is making sure that people inside and outside the field of psychology educate themselves on the distinct difficulties that African Americans face and how they should be handled differently from non-people of color Those who treat black people should be well aware of these differences and certified to analyze and evaluate them There should also be more resources available in regards to mental illness in underprivileged communities, especially seeing as though they are usually predominantly populated by African Americans, and that “Black and African American people living below poverty are twice as likely to report serious psychological distress than those living over the poverty level,” according to Mental Health America It may seem like there is nothing you can do, but charities, fundraisers or something as simple as raising awareness through a post or tweet are all valid and effective ways to help end this stigma and help Black people address and treat mental issues that may plague them

The Statistics

1-in-3

African Americans who need mental health care receives it.

(Dalencour M, et al 2017)

58.2 % of Black and African American young adults ages 18 -25 with serious mental illness did NOT receive treatment.

(The CDC 2018)

12.3% of Black and African American adults who had a doctor’s office or clinic visit over the past year had difficulty getting needed care, tests or treatment compared to 6 8 percent of white adults

(National Healthcare Quality & Disparities Report 2016)

BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES (Scan Below)