Black Mental Health is the term used to represent all the mental health issues related to black people (African or African American people). 13% of US population is comprising of African American People. The rate of suicides in children between the ages of five and twelve was higher than that of white children of same age group in a survey (2018).
In recent studies it has been found that in black community, the person with mild symptoms of anxiety and depression are taken as “crazy”. They do not feel comfortable to open up to the world for their health problems, especially mental health issues.
African American people or “black people” have faced lot of social discrimination and violence in America. The dehumanisation, violence and unlawful activities against American Africans have caused present day racism. It is very demotivating and traumatizing to be treated as less than others just because of colour of skin. Black people have been mis-treated in most of the countries lead by white people. They have been bullied, humiliated for their black colour and even there have been uneven disbursal of rights for education, occupation and travel standards on the basis of colours. Black people were earlier not allowed in some countries to travel in first class of railways and airways.
All this mis treatment has badly affected the mental state of black adults and youngs as well. They have developed a sense of inferiority and often hesitate to seek medical or psychological help. They find it difficult to trust the healthcare professionals and do not disclose directly about their mental illness. Physical signs as bodyache, fatigue, headache and migraine can be the indications of stress and depression. An untrained mental health officer can not understand the physical symptoms of stress and depression unless black people explain by themselves.
According to a research 63% of black adults take mental health problems as a matter of personal weakness. Under such inferiority complex, the mental health issues of black people remain undiagnosed and untreated.
A number of social organisations and mental health care services for improving black mental health are working all over the globe especially in America. These groups teach black people to raise their self esteem by improving their communication skills. The educational and occupational equality of black people is confirmed by regulating standard laws to eliminate any chances of colour discrimination.
The main organisations working for reducing black mental health problems are:
-Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective(BEAM).
-Black Men Heal.
-Black Mental Wellness.
-Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation.
-Ebony’s Mental Health Resources by State.
-Melanin and Mental Health
All these groups work to ensure timely medical assistance for black people. Knowledge providing campaigns are run to spread awareness about healthcare services and remedies to improve mental wellness.
Treatment Directories to Access Information about Therapists:
–Association of Black Psychologists Directory.
-Therapy for Black Men.
-Psychology for Today Directory of African American Therapists.
-Inclusive Therapists.
