By Leslie Holley
During Black History Month we celebrate African Americans and the role they have played in building this country, as well as recognize their achievements. The culture in the Black community is strong, impactful, and interwoven in American culture. However, the statistics on Black mental wellness are disproportionate to the experiences of others within American culture. However, in recent years, there have been many signs that indicate that attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment in the black community are changing. In my private counseling practice, Healing-Circle LLC, located in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, 75% of our clients are Black. People of color are beginning to realize that taking care of mental health is just as important as physical health.
This Black History Month, let us focus on the wins we continue to make and identify 3 things that can promote wellness in the Black Community:
1. Take A Self Care Day
Taking a day off from work isn’t going to solve all of your problems, but taking a day, or several, can give you time to recharge and take care of yourself. When planning to take a mental health day, think of a few activities that will help you reset and refresh. Many times, clients tell me when a racist hate crime is breaking news in the media, their jobs don’t acknowledge the collective pain and its business as usual. Let your workplace know that you need time for yourself. It’s a great way to assert your healthy boundaries and get back to what's important, your health.
2. Seek Therapy
Be empowered to put yourself first and seek therapy. Find someone whom you trust and who fits your values. It’s not easy to find the right fit. It’s even more difficult to find a BIPOC therapist, as more than 80% of the mental health providers in this country are white and only about 4% identify as Black or African-American. For mental health services specific to Black wellness, check out these organizations:
- Therapy for Black Girls – This online space is dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls. The site offers a directory of therapists outlining their specialties, experience, detailed information about virtual or office sessions, and insurance options.
- The Loveland Foundation – Established in 2018 by Rachel Cargle, the Foundation aims to bring opportunity and healing to communities of color through fellowships, residency programs, and listening tours, with the goal of empowerment and liberation.
- Open Path Therapy – A nonprofit that serves clients who lack health insurance or whose health insurance doesn’t provide adequate mental health benefits, helping members access affordable in-person or online care.
- Pro Bono Therapy – Pro Bono Counseling (PBC) connects uninsured and under-insured low-income Marylanders with volunteer mental health professionals providing care at no cost.
3. Unplug from Media
Take a social media break. Research suggests that Black people who have frequent exposure to the violence committed against other Black people can experience long-term mental health effects. Graphic videos can cause vicarious trauma. For African Americans, witnessing violence against someone who looks like them, combined with lived experiences of racism, can create severe psychological problems resembling post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
https://www.self.com/story/black-folks-take-a-break
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/09/us/trauma-therapy-black-community.html
https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2022/02/black-mental-health-matters-a-resource-guide/
https://www.verywellmind.com/i-tried-therapy-for-black-girls-review-7574357
https://thelovelandfoundation.org/about/
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