While the conversation about mental health has grown globally and more people are becoming interested in it, the issues facing the Black community remain a blemish on the progress of recent years. Not only is this demographic having to deal with socio-economic issues, but there are also psychological constraints on progress that are forming an invisible undercurrent stopping a breakthrough.
The goal right now is to move beyond mental health awareness. It’s no longer enough in a situation where systemic barriers are keeping quality care out of reach. Many people in the Black community are only able to access the services that are required to improve their mental health and move onwards and upwards in the world. Supporting Black mental health needs to move beyond performative statements and dismantle the cultural, financial, and educational barriers that are keeping many people stuck in cycles of hardship and depression.
One issue is the lack of Black mental health professionals represented in the industry. The American Psychological Association says that only around 4% of psychologists in the US are Black, which is significantly less than the population as a whole. Consequently, it is challenging for mental health professionals to differentiate between racial trauma, cultural nuances, and the general psychological issues that are permeating the West right now.
Clinics at the forefront of breaking through systemic barriers include Manhattan Mental Health Counseling. These outfits aim to tackle problems like high out-of-pocket therapy costs and how systemic wealth gaps limit access to mental health services.
“Being located in New York, we cater to every segment of the community, including our Black patients,” explains a spokesperson for the clinic. “There is a need to understand the specific issues that these individuals face, depending on their backgrounds and upbringing. These can be quite different from the types of mental health problems faced by other ethnicities and groups in the local community.”
For example, intergenerational trauma can show up as “weathering,” which is premature ageing and a physical embodiment of the damage caused by chronic exposure to discrimination. The psychological toll of online police brutality videos and systemic injustice can also have a profound effect on mental health. Many people in the Black community feel in a constant state of threat and do not feel able to relax into their lives in a similar way to other people in the community.Â
Intersectionality tends to amplify these issues. For example, Black bisexual women or individuals who are Black and in the LGBTQ+ community have to navigate a combination of queerphobia and racism. These issues can be particularly pronounced outside of metropolitan areas, where many Black individuals reside.
Because of this, there is a legacy of mistrust that feeds into mental health problems that permeate the community. Many Black individuals naturally and quite rightly feel a hesitancy towards healthcare. This rational response is a protection against historical exploitation, according to major clinical investigations such as the Tuskegee study. You can see these adaptations in how the Black community uses language. For example, when dealing with mental health challenges, many are told to “pray it away” or “take it to strength.” While these sayings were protective in the past, they can be barriers to seeking professional help in the present, preventing many people in need from getting the therapy that they require.
“We encourage anybody who is experiencing mental health issues to come forward and seek treatment,” explains Manhattan Mental Health Counselling. “Often, trying to ignore the problem or wishing it away is not effective and can even create false economies in somebody’s life. For example, somebody with severe depression or anxiety is unable to get out of bed or go to work to earn a living. Being less productive further reinforces cycles of poverty and dependency.”
Of course, there are still internal community challenges besides the legacy of mistrust. Generational shifts are also taking place. Older generations still face deep-rooted stigma, although younger individuals are sometimes experiencing more equality.
The solution is to provide real support. One method to do this is to demystify the mental health field for aspiring Black students. Funding scholarships and pipelines for psychiatrists and therapists in this community is a good place to start. Mandatory culturally responsive training is also useful. If mental health professionals have diversity checklists available, they’re able to approach non-white segments of the community with greater empathy and respect. Policy expansion, including Medicaid and forcing insurance companies to offer equitable mental health coverage, could be a good step forward. Enshrining this in the law and providing support to pay for premiums has been proven to be effective in other countries.
The greatest change is likely to occur by integrating mental health services with community infrastructure. These approaches can be a very good way to meet people where they are, in places like churches, barber shops, and other meeting places. Usually, these community groupings have more trust than standalone mental health institutions. If practitioners can operate here, as well as in their clinics, then they’re more likely to have reach into the black community.
In summary, the Black community’s mental health crisis is not to do with one or two isolated issues, but is rather a systemic problem. It’s also not an individual failure of the Black community, but rather how the wider society relates to it. Policy makers, allies of the Black community, and therapists will all need to change what they do to support Black mental health. Being culturally sensitive and understanding these specific trust issues that have arisen over recent years is critical for ensuring proper administration of services
“We feel that changes can be made in New York and beyond through simple measures. An understanding of the requirements of specific communities can improve the quality of service and care that they receive,” says Manhattan Mental Health Counselling.
For now, change is likely to be slow. Mental health care is not a luxury; it should be seen as a fundamental human right, especially given the toll that it takes on those experiencing anxiety, depression, and more complex psychiatric problems.
