Okeh 1

Doreen C. Okeh

Ms. Mary Curtin

Independent Research G/T

7 March 2019

It's All in Your Head​: The Importance of Normalizing Mental Health within the African

American Community

Mental health has been relevant for thousands of years; however, it did not become a

prominent issue until the early 20th century. In the past, mental illness was treated with much

shame, reproach, and fear. Doctors used dangerous and ineffective methods of treatment to aid

the patient; however, these often times rendered the patient immobilized or mentally

handicapped rather than bringing the individual peace of mind. Although mental health care has

progressed immensely in its treatment and effectivity, the advances in treatment have omitted

African Americans and have failed to provide accessible mental care to the black youth in

alignment with their lifestyles (Todd 2018). Black Americans who do not seek professional

assistance for their mental health woes allow their issues to progress into more complex and

deeper dilemmas. African American individuals in the United States suffering from

psychological ailments may be hesitant to seek treatment due to strong familial influences,

stigma in seeking professionals assistance, and religious implications which can hinder an

individual later in life.

African American individuals suffering from psychological ailments are hesitant to seek

treatment due to strong familial influences. In modern day, there is a huge divide in discussion of
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mental health in comparison to non minority families. It has been proven that there is a decreased

rate of communication regarding mental health within minority families (Shepell.Fgi). Blacks are

20% more likely to suffer from a range of mental illness in numerical comparison to other racial

groups (Parker 2016). Although African Americans are at higher risk for becoming mentally ill,

one’s decisions to better themselves by reaching out to a mental health professional can be

wrongly interpreted by family. This is best presented by Weinstein who states, “Mental illness is

seen less as an ailment and more as an individual's’ personal flaw which can then lead to a

negative reflection upon the individual’s family” (2018). The author reinforces the idea of

targeting a person rather than their illness, and how it inadvertently condemns the family of the

individual to shame.

Additionally, seeing a therapist is generally seen as a sign of weakness and capitulation

of one’s pride (Parker 2016). Weinstein further exemplifies this as she mentions how ​“Mental

health issues are often not considered to be medical issues, but character flaws, signs of

weakness, and/or private matters” (2018). Furthermore, the suffocating social shame which is

cast upon the family members of the afflicted being is a predominant factor. Those who are open

to conversation and discussion about their mental ails are greatly judged by family members

(Parker). As further stated in Mental Health America to African Americans, depression and

similar illnesses are generally seen as a sign of weakness, therefore projecting the image of

weakness and vulnerability from one member of a family unit impacts the entire family as a

whole. It is evident the dominance which familial opinions possess over the actions and efforts of

a black person looking for formal treatment. Fasosin illuminates the lasting implications of this

into a marital point of view “because…[when] a family or one of the children of the family has a
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mental illness nobody wants to marry into that family” (2019). She proclaims how

African-Americans may be resistant to seek treatment because they fear it will reflect negatively

on their families–an outward admission of the family's failure to handle problems internally. As

stated, there is a pattern of the targeting of an individual rather than their illness. Fasosin urges

society as a whole to“ make it people first; no one is their condition they are suffering from, it is

just something you are going through” (2019).

The impacts of mental health is also prominent in the school environment of black

students. Ignorant teachers typically address behavioral issues with punishment overlooking the

underlying internal causes of such conflicts. African American students with behavioral issues

are often met with immediate reprimandation such as detention and suspension, which does not

confront the true problem but aides only in concealing their mental woes (De la Cretaz 2017).

This can result in a “domino effect”, where troubled students escalate from minor offenses to

actual criminal offenses, all because of untreated psychological trauma as a child. A lack of care

for minority youth is the true crime prohibiting them from succeeding. However, refinement in

the ways which students are reprimanded and corrected in their mistakes will directly connect

with aiding them internally and verbally expressing their cognitive conflicts.

In addition, another area which is proved to prevent black Americans from seeking mental

health assistance is the shame and stigma associated with professional assistance such as therapy.

African American individuals suffering from psychological ailments are hesitant to seek

treatment due to stigma and shame in seeking professionals assistance. The stigma associated

with mental health treatment and therapy can prevent black people from seeking help. Weinstein

institutes this idea as she states“​This sense of shame or embarrassment reflects the social stigma
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of mental health" (2018).

There is a common misconception of therapy, that is selectively for “crazy” people, but

therapists can assist an individual by offering unbiased professional advice to their patient,

ultimately aiding in coping from whatever the patient may suffer from (Howard 2016). It has

been proven that the misunderstandings of mental health within the black community is one of

the main reasons why black mental health has its toxic stigma (NAMI 2018). Due to society not

understanding how mental illness can prohibit the daily functions of a person, it is often met with

reproach due to fear of what is not understood. The absurd stigma of mental health which

envelop the black youth of America today ridiculous, and the fear of visiting a therapist could

even be compared to the same fear of police brutality in the black youth of America (Carter

2018).

Additionally, if a black person does not feel comfortable alongside his/her mental health

professional due to a racial divide, they will not have a progressive session (Williams 2014). The

patient may feel like their therapist can not relate to the issues which they bring forward,

therefore resulting in an ineffective session (Williams 2014). This captures the need for cultural

competency, which is ​the ability of providers and organizations to effectively deliver health care

services that meet the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of patients. A lack thereof will

inadvertently deter black individuals with mental illnesses from going to therapy.

In treating all patients, the environment of assistance is critical in situating the patient. If

the patient is not acclimatized to the area and does not feel as if it is a safe and encompassing

presence with their treatment provider, they will not have a progressive session. Fasosin supports

this as she elaborates upon how “​[A person suffering from mental illness] won’t even open up to
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whoever tries to help them because they feel like they have already been labeled” (2019).​ If

mental health professionals and society both make an effort to address a person first and not their

illness, it will advance the normalization and discussion regarding mental illness.

Additionally, religion and spirituality has an immense impact upon individuals in the

black community. Nearly 80% of African Americans identify as Christian (Pew Research 2014),

and the powerful influence of the clergy can overlap with the morals and beliefs of the family.

Often times, this influence will discourage black sufferers of mental illness from branching away

from their religion for cognitive assistance. Due to the stark religious implications surrounding

mental illness in the Christian church, African American individuals suffering from

psychological ailments are more so inclined to be averse in pursuing professional mental health

treatment.

Religion has become a primary source of treatment for blacks. There is a tremendous

impact of Christianity in the lives of African Americans. This causes them to rely solely on their

faith for healing without seeking consultation from formal medical treatment (NAMI 2018). This

total reliance upon faith and religion for alleviation of mental health complications causes a

parasitic dependance to form between an individual and the clergy. As a result, individuals are

encouraged to take their problems to God and not to a mental health professional since God is

seen as “ The Ultimate Healer” (Lolmaugh 2017). The church and its clergy have nonetheless

evolved into an inadequate substitute for professional mental health treatment. This has caused

religion to become the replacement for therapeutic treatment, where it should rather be used in

conjunction with it (Howard 2016). Together these areas would better provide a balanced and

well-encompassing method of care for a conflicted individual. Weinstein states that African
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Americans are more likely to seek assistance through their religious organizations rather than a

mental health professional because it brings a sense of comfort knowing the members within

their own community. This further emphasizes the dependance which blacks hold towards their

faith and community, and how external forces of assistance tend to be avoided because of their

unfamiliarity with such.

Therefore, African Americans suffering from mental ails are often times hesitant to seek

professional treatment and care due to continual discouragement from family and community to

do such, heavy stigma associated with mental illness, and strong religious commitment. This

creates lasting impacts within the individual such as worsened symptoms, deterioration of mental

state, and suicide. An increase in effort to destigmatize mental health and increase discussion

within the household and the church will immensely contribute in dissolving enveloping stigma.
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Works Cited

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Carey, Benedict. "The Chains of Mental Illness in West Africa." ​The New York Times​, 11 Oct.

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De la Cretaz, Britini. "The Fix." ​Mental Health Needs Of Black Children Often Fly Under The

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