Mental health amongst the Black and African American Community
By: Ava Wilson
It comes as no surprise that African Americans experience mental health issues in different ways than other cultures or communities do. In fact, “Adult Blacks and African Americans are more likely to have feelings of depression, sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness than adult Whites.” (MHA, 2018) There are disparities, inequalities, and other ethical issues that this community faces. Mental health conditions occur in Black and African American people in the U.S. at about the same rate and frequency as in White Americans. However, with the history of trauma, dehumanization, and violence in America, it tends to characterize their experience with mental health issues. This is present day racism.
Racism has created a mistrustful and less productive experience within the land of healthcare. There is an immense list of disparities including inadequate access and delivery of healthcare. This lack of access alone is bound to produce feelings of stress or anxiety. Seeking help for these issues shows up as a lower percentage than the white community due to these disparities. “In 2016, 12.3 percent of Black and African American adults who had a doctor’s office of clinic visit over the past year had a difficulty getting needed care, tests, or treatment compared to 6.8 percent of White adults.” (MHA, 2016) Black and African American healthcare providers are known to give more effective, concerned, and appropriate care to Black and African American patients seeking help. Unfortunately, they only make up a very small portion of the behavioral health side of healthcare providers. When members of the black community do seek help it is most likely through receive it from an emergency department such as Emergency Rooms and urgent cares rather than from a mental health specialist.
There is a stigma surrounding mental health especially within the Black community. In fact, Martin Luther King Jr. was reported to have severe depression that he refused psychiatric treatment for. His staff and peers encouraged him to seek care, but he didn’t because of the stigma. Racism today can often times be more discrete, but it is still prevalent. It still exists in the forms of lack of access to healthcare, housing, education, employment, and in increased incarceration. Only 25 percent of Black and African Americans seek help for mental health issues compared to a whopping 40 percent of White Americans that do. Crawford states that reasons Black Americans receive less care can include “the lack of cultural sensitivity by health care professionals, African Americans feeling marginalized, and the reliance on family, community, and spiritual support instead of medical or psychiatric treatment—even when it is critically necessary.” (Crawford, 2024)
It is important for therapists to perform culturally competent care. This includes the recognition of racism and history as well as compassionate treatment no matter their race, gender, sexuality, religion etc. It is an opportunity to learn and grow for everyone. With this being said, there are online databases dedicated to helping the Black community such as the Black Virtual Wellness Directory. The National Alliance on Mental Health Illness (NAMI) has an immense list of resources available to help.
Mental Health Resources for Black and African American Communities
- Black Emotional and Mental Health (BEAM)
- The Loveland Foundation
- The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation
- Therapy for Black Girls
- Therapy for Black Men
Resources:
“Black Mental Health: What You Need to Know.” Understanding Mental Health in Black Communities | McLean Hospital, 29 Jan. 2024, www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/black-mental-health.
“Black and African American Communities and Mental Health.” Mental Health America, www.mhanational.org/issues/black-and-african-american-communities-and-mental-health. Accessed 27 Feb. 2024.
