Change the Conversation: Race Relations + Mental Health
It’s no secret that chronic stress has a substantial effect on a personal’s psychological health. You might know it well: Your job has been running you ragged; you don’t have time to take care of yourself between running your kids to soccer practice and putting supper on the table; you’ve recently gone through the end of a romantic relationship. Next thing you know it: You’re not sleeping or eating well. You’re experiencing aches and pains; your heart is racing a hundred miles a minute; you can’t seem to think straight; you’re not feeling like yourself. You’re stressed.
Therefore, wouldn’t it make sense that African Americans and other minorities privy to racism on a regular basis might experience amplified stress and consequent mental health issues?
Indeed: Studies indicate that the consistent and pervasive stressor of racism has a significant effect on African Americans’ in particular. People of color experience a magnitude of stress that more closely resembles PTSD, resulting in a constant need for hypervigilance. The targeting of their race results in needing to be on guard around the clock, which produces both a physiological AND psychological response: The heart rate increases, breathing and blood pressure skyrocket, and stress hormones are released with vigor. Downright exhausting. With such a stressful response occurring with such regularity, chronic diseases become more likely, as do longstanding mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
To make matters worse, there is an innate stigma among many people of color regarding seeking treatment, especially in men. The build up of years upon years of systemic racism has caused black people to believe there are required to push through barriers, no matter their own wellbeing. More often than not, they are prioritizing merely staying alive over their mental health because it is what is necessary to survive in an environment riddled with racism.
As we speak, our nation is working to change that conversation. Movements against police brutality and in favor of Black Lives Matter are urging for societal reform against racism. Therefore, it is an optimal time to talk about mental health resources for minorities, and adversely, education for people who might experience implicit biases that impact the wellbeing of minorities.
- First of all, it is important to recognize that there is nothing wrong with asking for help. The mental health stigma is an ongoing battle as it is, but remind yourself that there is strength in wanting to grow and heal, no matter your color.
- The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation is doing incredible work to end the stigma. No one should have to suffer in silence, and BLHF seeks to educate people of color on the matter, fight for mental health support in urban schools, and increase the number of African American therapists.
- Katherine Kam, an award-winning mental health journalist, compiled a series of resources on Asian American mental health, aiding in educating how the issue expands into other minorities, as well.
- The Loveland Foundation was established to break down the barriers of accessing mental health care, especially in women and girls of color. They specifically provide financial assistance to black women and girls seeking therapy, offering applications here.
- The Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) seeks to educate individuals of all races on the growing issue of mental health as a result of racism. They provide extensive toolkits and videos, as well as resources for people of color to promote personal wellness on a regular basis.
- Seek a culturally competent therapist. Lucky for you, you found one right here, and I am more than happy to help. It is important that your growth is prioritized, and you deserve to heal in an environment that you feel safe and understood.
- Practice self-care. Just Davia provides an extensive list of podcasts on mental health for people of color, and Dr. Candice Nicole created a series of Black Lives Matter meditations. Prioritize your mental health and engage in ways to relieve stress.
- Dr. Joy Gruy created a fantastic set of guidelines for people of all races to promote integrity and respect, to include holding people of all cultures in high regard. These principles are a great way to continue to check in with your own implicit biases and how you treat the people in your community.
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Resources:
- Psychophysiology in African American Samples, Howard University Studies
- How Racism Affects Youth Health and Well-Being
- Mental Health America: Black and African American Communities and Mental Health
- Filling Our Cups: 4 Ways People of Color can Foster Mental Health and Practice Restorative Healing
