Thursday, January 3, 2019

A Discussion On Black Mental Health

By Dorothy Watson


Given modern day ideas and ideals, it might be easy to assume that racism is a thing of the past. It could be that those who assume this are living on a mountain cave or something. After all, you hear about all kinds of news the whole world over delineating the horrible actualities and consequences of discriminative actions and perceptions. This is why special coping mechanisms like black mental health have been upheld and passed.

Racism is an idea thats inputted to most, if not all, African Americans at a very tender age. Although some might not have experienced it to an overt or severe degree due to subsisting in a modern, well adjusted environment, its something whose repercussions theyve likely heard on the news, something that their parents or relatives apprehensively talk about, their peers languish about, or something that theyve deduced from the stares of strange strangers on the subway.

Anyway, even if one pretends to be an enlightened and modern individual who doesnt take part in all these atrocities, it still wouldnt do to turn a blind eye. After all, its very much existent, historically and currently. And these arent just happenings that one could ignore.

Therefore, certain well meaning individuals have built an enterprise that caters specifically to blacks and other racial minorities. As per their mission, they aim to educate and inspire vulnerable persons from vulnerable communities. This undertaking is no doubt an effort to overturn undesirable statistics which relegates African Americans to the sidelines when it comes to receiving according treatment on mental and psychological issues and some such.

More specifically, the historical adversity undergone by African Americans, from slavery to the more recent socioeconomic, health, and educational exclusion from the twentieth century has translated to impregnable perceptions of disparity. Altogether, and if we were to take Maslows Hierarchy of Needs seriously, the lack of these givens may result in a downturn of self actualization, namely issues in ones mental state. Its not at all far fetched to assume that people who are discriminated, impoverished, and some such, are at higher risks for poor psychological well being.

If we were to build upon Maslows quintessential Hierarchy of Needs, then it might be said that these experiences refused certain Blacks from achieving self actualization, that which could be emotionally or mentally burdensome to their well being. Compound that with the cumulative feelings of exclusion, discrimination, and the actualities of poverty, and we are painted an extremely bleak picture.

There have been many institutions and organizations formed that serve to combat these undesirable offshoots. These aim to provide a space and forum through which approaches for the development and the maintenance of mental health is promoted and established. These approaches are especially relevant to vulnerable Blacks found in vulnerable communities.

Many approaches are adopted for this enterprise. Theres direct service prevention, that which ranges from school services to community ones. It touches on motley topics, from tobacco use education and prevention, HIV and AIDS prevention initiatives, and even fatherhood initiatives. After all, the reasons for mental issues are wide and discrete. Might as well be as holistic as possible in ones approach.

BMH organizations work to remove this negative stigma that surrounds the address of psychological health in the black community. It also aims to remove instances of mistrust to authorities by inculcating that health practitioners only have everyones best interests in mind, irrespective of race and some such distinctions. Consequently, this will enable posterity to grow up with access to resources of education and counseling services.




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