“Black people don’t have those problems” “That’s a
white people thing” How many times have you heard this phrase being used by
someone who has been, undoubtedly, misguided? Let’s just say, I would probably
be rich right now if I charged every time I overheard either of those
phrases. While there is a huge problem with the dismissal and lack of mental
health care in the African American community, this post specifically focuses
on women of color and Depression. Black
women are taught to be strong, witty, feisty, the backbone, the prayer warrior,
the glue that holds the family together. We are never sick. We are never tired,
but ohhh to be brown and depressed. Depression is difficult for anyone who has
to face it but the lack of communal support, the down play, and ridicule that
brown women face when they associate themselves with depression is disheartening.
Health care clinicians and the African American
community have always shared a turbulent and untrusting relationship due to the
years of unethical experiments and procedures that were done to embarrass,
demasculate and even kill the Black race. It seemed as if physicians were
treating them for every purpose other than helping them reach optimal health.
These happenings have formulated a mistrust amongst the African American
community and doctors. (a tiny bit of
background information to help you understand where the root of the distrust
sprouted.)
Jumping back to the purpose of this post, the video I
shared provides such a colorful illustration of what it means to be brown and
depressed. The absence of communal support, the religious dependency, and the
inability to recognize the illness creates an ongoing battle that deteriorates,
both the mental and physical, health of Black women. There are a number of blogs
and articles that discuss the problems surrounding mental health care in the
African American community, (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nia-hamm/depression-african-american-women_b_5836320.html)
https://psychcentral.com/lib/african-american-women-and-depression/
however there are still few resources that contribute to the resolution of the
issue.
My post is not meant to show a lack of discernment for
women of other races who face depression, but it is to shed light on a matter
that is not often discussed. This illness is the source of much distress for anyone
who is consumed by it, but due to the lack of acceptance and knowledge about
the disorder, black women are forced to repress their struggles and pretend to
be okay which only enhances the severity of their depression. I am curious to
hear your thoughts on an issue that impacts a community of people. My questions
for you are as follows: Were you previously aware of the matters discussed in
the post? How can we begin to bridge this gap of mistrust? What are some ways
that we can shed light on the importance of mental health care in the African
American community?
