TALKING THERAPY

Within the black community, talking about mental health has often been a big taboo or seen as shameful Whilst this is changing we are still not as open about our mental health as we should be Instead of having honest discussions we are often told to pray or worse, to “ manage ” Evidence has shown that these methods are not working A 2019 article by Columbia University found that black people were 20% more likely to experience a serious mental health condition such as severe depression or anxiety in comparison to those in the white community Black people are also four times more likely to be detained under the mental health act in comparison to our white counterparts The Psychology Medicine journal also found that black people are more likely to develop post traumatic stress disorder.

Micro Workouts

There are only 24 hours in the day but often we have 40 hours worth of tasks to complete and that doesn’t include exercising

Evidence has shown many benefits of exercising such as improving heart health and reducing sugar levels This is particularly beneficial for the black community where diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes are highly prevalent Finding time for the gym daily can be difficult and activities such as walking instead of driving are great suggestions but may not always be possible which is why micro workouts are on the rise According to Forbes, micro workouts remove the barrier of finding time to complete a full workout and can be incorporated into your day to day life Activities such as a quick Soca or afrobeats dance routine in the morning, a 10 minute fitness challenge at lunch and Pilates or stretching to wind down in the evening can contribute to improving your activity levels Whilst micro workouts do not replace your usual workout routine, overtime they can have big results Plus a micro workout is better than no workout As Michelle Obama would say “let’s move ”

These statistics are just some of the poor health inequalities that affect black people however instead of suffering in silence or just “managing” there are options available to help with your mental health

Talking therapy is an excellent option to talk about the issues you are facing with a neutral and non-judgemental professional that can provide an alternative perspective to your concerns as well as tailored advice For black people we know that accessing traditional therapy has not always been easy especially as many methods are tailored towards white Eurocentric communities without inclusion of the cultural nuances that affect black people however there are many options that provide more culturally relevant solutions These include The Black African and Asian Therapy Network, Black Minds Matter UK, Mendu, Rainbow Noir as well as Mind s Young Black Men program Help is available and you shouldn’t be ashamed to access help In seeking help you can be as open or as subtle as you want These services are confidential Don’t worry about others finding out If you need help, please get it You don’t have to struggle or suffer in silence Your best “soft life” self will thank you If you are suffering from any mental health symptoms or conditions, please seek medical advice

Photography: Amanda Akokhia

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