Black mental health is a critical issue that impacts the overall well-being and quality of life of individuals and communities [1]. Factors like racism, oppression, and trauma can severely affect the mental well-being of Black people, leading to higher rates of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder [1]. However, despite experiencing mental health challenges at similar rates to other groups, Black individuals face significant barriers in accessing culturally competent mental health care, including distrust of the medical system, lack of diverse professionals, and stigma within their communities [1] [2].
Empowering the Black community to prioritize mental health and overcome these barriers is essential [2]. This article explores key resources and strategies for addressing mental health in the Black community, from overcoming stigma and accessing culturally competent care to building supportive networks and amplifying personal stories [2]. By providing supportive language and encouraging individuals to find practices that resonate with their experiences, we can create conversations and facilitate positive change in Black mental health awareness [2].
Overcoming Stigma
The stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community is a significant barrier that often leads to underutilization of mental health services, a problem that can be traced back to the era of slavery [4]. Personal stories from Black individuals living with mental illness highlight their experiences with discrimination, racism, and stigma surrounding mental illness within their culture [3]. For instance, Catherine Buccello shared, “Depression consumed my life and I was unaware of what was going on…Growing up with an immigrant Caribbean mother, those things were not acknowledged or accepted” [3]. Similarly, Swiyyah Woodard expressed, “I would look at a picture of a person with mental illness and it didn’t look like me so I said ‘nope, I don’t have no mental illness’, but is there a look? No, anybody can get mental illness. It’s a false image of what mental illness looks like” [3].
Strategies to address mental health stigma in the Black community include:
- Raising Awareness: Educating others about mental health and its impact on the Black community can help reduce implicit biases and promote understanding [4].
- Creating Safe Spaces: It is crucial to create a safe space at home and in the community to allow Black individuals to openly express their emotions without judgment [6]. As Dr. Carleah East stated, “To be honest, therapy is something that as you know the Black community or people of color, we’re not necessarily up to that. You know we’re not open to that and the reason why is because systematically we’ve had very limited spaces in where we could be safe” [3].
- Seeking Culturally Competent Care: Finding a mental health provider who demonstrates cultural competence and understanding of the needs of diverse patients is essential [9]. Historically, healthcare providers have been taught to assume Black people don’t experience physical and emotional pain to the same degree, leading to misdiagnosis and mistreatment of conditions like depression and anxiety in Black communities [9].
Accessing Culturally Competent Care
Accessing culturally competent mental health care is crucial for the Black community to receive appropriate support and treatment. African American communities often face more stigma, discrimination, and compromised mental health care [10]. Only 12.5% of African Americans/Blacks ‘strongly agree’ or ‘agree’ that they feel comfortable talking about mental health with close friends, family, and community, compared to 40.67% of white respondents [10]. Lack of cultural competence frequently results in misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment for African Americans and other multicultural communities [10].
When seeking a mental health provider, it’s essential to assess their level of cultural sensitivity and competence:
- Ask if they have treated other African American patients [10]
- Inquire about their training in cultural competence [10]
- Evaluate if they understand your beliefs, values, and cultural characteristics to incorporate them into the treatment plan [10]
Several organizations and resources provide support and referrals for culturally competent mental health care for the Black community:
- Black Therapist List: A directory of Black therapists [1]
- Therapy for Black Girls: Connects Black women with culturally competent therapists [1]
- Therapy for Black Men: Offers a directory of therapists and coaches equipped to provide culturally competent care for Black men, as well as financial assistance [13]
- Therapy in Color: Aims to create spaces for healing and access to psychotherapy by culturally diverse professionals for Black, Indigenous, and people of color [13]
- Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM): Provides resources and support for Black mental health [11]
- Black Girls Smile: Focuses on mental health education and awareness for Black girls and women [11]
- The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation: Offers resources and support for mental health in the Black community [11]
Culturally competent mental health care involves providers who acknowledge racism’s effects, learn about patients’ cultural backgrounds, and use trauma-informed and racial socialization-based treatment approaches [4]. It is crucial to find a provider who demonstrates cultural competence and understanding of the unique needs of the Black community [5].
Community Support Networks
Community support, self-care, and connecting with resources can play a significant role in promoting Black mental health [5]. Organizations like NOWINCLUDED are working to connect Black individuals with education, support, and resources to navigate mental health complexities [6]. Here are some key community support networks and resources available:
- BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective): Provides information on mental health training, toolkits, and a directory of licensed Black therapists who can provide online services [14].
- Black Mental Health Alliance: Connects individuals with therapists and provides professional training [14].
- Ethel’s Club: A social and wellness community where paying members can access group workouts, guided meditations, wellness salons, and art workshops [14].
- Psychology Today Directory of African American Therapists: Provides detailed therapist listings for states and major cities [14].
- Sistah Afya Community Mental Wellness: A social impact business that provides mental health education, therapy, community support, and resources for young adult Black women [14].
- Therapy for Black Girls: A website with a therapist locator, group chats, and blog articles to encourage the wellness of Black women and girls [14].
- African Americans, Anxiety and Depression Association of America: Offers information on choosing providers and articles on overcoming unique obstacles and the link between racism, stress, and anxiety [14].
- Black Mental Matters Podcast: A weekly conversation addressing mental health disparities in the Black community [14].
- Brother, You’re on My Mind Toolkit: Provides educational material, checklists, and tips on partnerships, outreach, and event planning for African American men [14].
- Minding My Black Business Podcast: A series dedicated to the mental health of Black entrepreneurs [14].
- The Safe Place: A mental health app for the Black community [14].
Additionally, organizations like the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, founded by actress Taraji P. Henson, raise awareness about mental health in the Black community, provide scholarships for Black students pursuing mental health careers, and offer mental health services to youth in urban schools [13]. The Liberate Meditation App is specifically designed for people of color, with guided meditations on topics like racial discrimination and honoring one’s feelings [13]. Black Therapists Rock is another resource that includes a book, Facebook group, therapist directory, and training events [14].
Personal Stories and Experiences
The personal stories are featured on a website called “This Is My Brave” that highlights intersectional stories of BIPOC individuals living with mental illness [3]. Some powerful narratives shed light on the mental health challenges faced by the Black community:
- Sadness and Emotional Distress: Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress, such as sadness and feeling like everything is an effort. Black adults living below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress [12].
- Barriers to Treatment: Despite the greater mental health needs, only one in three Black adults with mental illness receive treatment. They are less likely to receive guideline-consistent care, less frequently included in research, and more likely to use emergency rooms or primary care rather than mental health specialists [12].
- Increased Risk: Black Americans are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population. Black youth exposed to violence are at greater risk for posttraumatic stress disorder [9].
These personal accounts highlight the urgent need to address mental health disparities, break down barriers to care, and provide culturally competent support for the Black community.
Mental Health in Black Youth
Black youth face significant disparities in mental health, with higher rates of poor mental health and suicidal behaviors compared to their white counterparts [8]. A concerning trend is that BIPOC youth are more likely to be directed to the juvenile justice system rather than receiving appropriate specialty mental health care [15]. This perpetuates a cycle of trauma and exacerbates mental health challenges within these communities.
The 2021 data highlights the urgency of addressing mental health needs in youth from diverse backgrounds:
- American Indian/Alaska Native youth had the highest rate of suicide attempts (25.8%) and second-highest rate of persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness (56.5%) [8].
- Black youth had the second-highest rate of suicide attempts (13.8%) and third-highest rate of persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness (45.7%) [8].
- Latino youth had the third-highest rate of suicide attempts (11.3%) and fourth-highest rate of persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness (41.4%) [8].
- Multiracial youth had the fourth-highest rate of suicide attempts (10.9%) and highest rate of persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness (57.8%) [8].
These alarming statistics underscore the need for culturally competent mental health resources and support systems tailored to the unique experiences and challenges faced by BIPOC youth. Addressing systemic barriers, promoting early intervention, and fostering inclusive and supportive environments are crucial steps towards improving mental health outcomes for these vulnerable populations [8] [15].
Black Mental Health Pioneers
Bebe Moore Campbell was a prominent Black mental health advocate who founded NAMI-Inglewood and worked to bring awareness to the unique mental health struggles of minority communities [16]. Congress recognized June as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in her honor [16].
Herman George Canady was the first psychologist to study the influence of rapport between an IQ test proctor and the subject, and how the race of the proctor can create bias in IQ testing [16]. E. Kitch Childs helped found the Association for Women in Psychology and the Gay Liberation Front [16]. She provided therapy to LGBTQ+ individuals, people living with HIV/AIDS, and other marginalized groups, centering her work around feminist theory and the experiences of Black women [16].
Mamie Phipps Clark and Kenneth Bancroft Clark were a pioneering husband-wife team of psychologists [16]. Mamie was the first African American woman to earn a doctorate in psychology from Columbia University [16]. Their ‘Doll Study’ provided key evidence in the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case, showing the psychological harm of school segregation on Black children [16].
| Pioneer | Contribution |
|---|---|
| James P. Comer | Created the Comer School Development Program in 1968 to improve school restructuring and student outcomes. He was a co-founder and past president of the Black Psychiatrists of America [16]. |
| Paul Bertau Cornely | The first African American elected as President of the American Public Health Association in 1968. He focused on reducing healthcare disparities and conducted research on tuberculosis, venereal diseases, and the effects of social/cultural factors on health [16]. |
| Jennifer Eberhardt | An expert on the psychological association between race and crime, her research on implicit bias has been used to educate law enforcement [16]. |
| M. Joycelyn Elders | The first African American and second woman to serve as Surgeon General of the United States, advocating for universal health coverage, comprehensive health education, and minority health issues [16]. |
| Solomon Carter Fuller | A pioneering African American psychiatrist who made significant contributions to the study of Alzheimer’s disease [16]. |
| Beverly Greene | A pioneer of intersectional psychology, with influential work on heterosexism, sexism, and racism [16]. |
Impact of Systemic Racism
Racism and racial trauma have a profound impact on the mental health of the Black community, leading to higher rates of conditions like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues [4]. Systemic racism, which refers to the discriminatory actions, beliefs, and unjust policies ingrained into various systems like education, the workplace, the economy, housing, the criminal justice system, and healthcare, creates or worsens mental health challenges for many people of color through racial trauma [7].
Racial trauma is an emotional or physical response to experiencing or witnessing racism, discrimination, or racially charged violence, which can lead to symptoms similar to PTSD [7]. Racially traumatic experiences include police-involved killings, hate crimes, and everyday racism [7]. The effects of racial trauma can manifest in various ways, including:
- Increased alertness and avoidance
- Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression
- Irregular sleep patterns
- Aggressive behavior
- Low self-esteem
- Substance abuse
- Feeling disconnected [7]
Racism is a mental health issue because it causes trauma, which can lead to mental illnesses that need to be taken seriously [15]. Some specific impacts of racism on mental health include:
- Misdiagnosis of schizophrenia in Black/African American clients, who are 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than their white counterparts [15]
- Depression as the most commonly reported mental health condition across BIPOC populations [15]
- Increased risk of PTSD in BIPOC individuals due to racial trauma [15]
- Physical and mental health issues resulting from stress caused by experiencing and observing racial discrimination [15]
- Black adults being 20% more likely to report serious psychological distress than white adults [15]
- More persistent depression in Black and Hispanic populations compared to white populations [15]
- Higher rates of PTSD and alcohol dependence among Native and Indigenous Americans [15]
It’s important to note that the concept of ‘race’ and racism is not a recent phenomenon, and human racial groups are not biological categories, but rather a social construction [17]. However, racism is significantly related to poor health, particularly mental health, and is a serious structural, institutional, and interpersonal risk and stress factor [17]. Racism can manifest in various forms, including internalized racism, interpersonal racism, institutional racism, and structural racism [17].
Despite the lack of a valid scientific basis for the biological concept of ‘race’ [17], racism has negative impacts on mental health, including increased risk of affective, psychotic, and substance use disorders, as well as physical health outcomes [17]. To address racism in mental health care, recommendations include incorporating education on racism and its impacts into training curricula, recognizing and naming racism in practice, research, and policies, and implementing anti-racism training and policies in mental health institutions [17].
Online and App-based Resources
The website MentalHealth.gov provides a wide range of resources and information on mental health and substance use disorder treatment and support for the Black community [18]. Key resources include:
- Finding mental health and substance use treatment services
- Information on different mental health conditions
- Resources for families and communities
- Stories of recovery
- Training for providers [18]
The website covers topics such as specific mental health conditions, substance use disorders, disaster and trauma response, suicide prevention, and programs focused on underserved populations [18]. It is run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [18].
Other online and app-based resources include:
- Therapy for Black Girls: A platform that includes a podcast, provider directory, and community to make therapy more accessible for Black women [13].
- Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA): Promotes educational forums, training, and referral services to support the Black community, including school-based mental health services [13].
- Black Mental Wellness: Collaborates with community stakeholders to provide culturally relevant educational resources and training opportunities for Black mental health professionals and students [13].
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| NAMI’s Sharing Hope | Provides a 3-part video series exploring mental wellness in Black communities [12]. |
| NAMI Resources | Includes a list of Black-focused mental health resources and educational materials on racism and inequality [12]. |
| ADAA Resources | Offers various resources including personal stories, blogs, webinars, and infographics related to mental health in the Black community [9]. |
These online and app-based resources aim to provide culturally competent information, support, and services to address the unique mental health needs of the Black community [9] [12] [13] [18].
Conclusion
The mental health challenges faced by the Black community are deeply rooted in systemic racism, discrimination, and historical trauma. However, by raising awareness, reducing stigma, and providing access to culturally competent care, these barriers can be overcome. Personal stories, community support networks, and the work of pioneering mental health advocates serve as beacons of hope, inspiring individuals to prioritize their well-being and seek the support they need.
While progress has been made, there is still a long way to go in addressing mental health disparities within the Black community. It is crucial for healthcare providers, policymakers, and society as a whole to recognize the impacts of racism and actively work towards creating inclusive and equitable systems that promote healing and empowerment. By fostering open conversations, amplifying diverse voices, and embracing culturally sensitive approaches, we can pave the way for a future where mental health is prioritized and accessible to all.
FAQs
How is mental health addressed within the Black community?
In the Black community, mental health support often comes from within the family, the broader community, and through spiritual practices. Additionally, there is a need for professional mental health care that is respectful and culturally informed. Efforts are being made to increase awareness about the harmful effects of stigmatizing language related to mental illness.
What are common mental health issues among Black individuals?
Studies indicate that adults within the Black community are 20% more likely to encounter serious mental health challenges, including Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, compared to the general population.
How is “African American” officially defined?
The term “African American” refers to individuals who have roots in any of the Black racial groups originating from Africa.
How do cultural, socioeconomic, and spiritual perspectives influence attitudes towards mental health and its treatment?
Cultural factors play a significant role in shaping attitudes towards mental health, influencing whether individuals seek help, the type of assistance they pursue, their coping mechanisms, social support systems, and the level of stigma they associate with mental illness. Additionally, culture affects how individuals interpret their mental health conditions.
References
[1] – https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/mental-health-in-the-black-community
[2] – https://www.adcouncil.org/our-impact/mental-health-initiative/mental-health-toolkit/black-community
[3] – https://thisismybrave.org/mcb-bipoc-mi/
[4] – https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/black-mental-health
[5] – https://marsellwc.com/the-importance-of-prioritizing-black-mental-health-in-todays-society/
[6] – https://themighty.com/topic/mental-health/empowering-the-black-community/
[7] – https://www.allinahealth.org/healthysetgo/care/how-systemic-racism-impacts-mental-health
[8] – https://www.tfah.org/story/centuries-of-systemic-racism-has-created-distinct-mental-health-challenges-for-minority-communities/
[9] – https://adaa.org/find-help/by-demographics/black-african-american-communities
[10] – https://namica.org/blog/mental-health-challenges-in-african-american-communities-%EF%BB%BF/
[11] – https://www.cookcountyil.gov/sites/g/files/ywwepo161/files/documents/2021-09/how_to_find_culturally_competent_mental_health_care_.pdf
[12] – https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Black-African-American
[13] – https://www.verywellmind.com/mental-health-resources-for-the-black-community-5181656
[14] – https://www.onlinemswprograms.com/resources/mental-health-resources-racial-ethnic-groups/
[15] – https://mhanational.org/racism-and-mental-health
[16] – https://www.mhanational.org/black-pioneers-mental-health
[17] – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8278246/
[18] – https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/still-striving-mountaintop-achieving-health-equity-african-americans
[19] – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10775551/