It’s the Mental Wellness for Me
In case you weren’t aware already, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I love to see it! Since the whole existence of my blog is essentially based on my thoughts + experiences + what’s on my mind at any given time, it’s only right that I address the topic of mental health, awareness, and wellness. Disclaimer: I am not a licensed psychological professional; I just want to shine a positive light on mental health. My primary goal is to promote mental wellness.
First, we must identify the problem however. There is a mental health stigma in our society, and with everything going on, we are in or nearing a mental health crisis. Moreover, each day makes it abundantly clearer that Black people specifically, have not been getting the mental healthcare they need historically. Some of the contributing factors as to why include:
Cultural shame associated with seeking mental healthcare that we have casted on each other in the Black community. There are negative stigmas that have historically been associated with mental illness.
General distrust of medical providers among Black people, which is warranted due to past medical unethical practices and experiments involving Black people (*cough cough* Henrietta Lacks and the Tuskegee experiment).
Religion - Black people are cited as one of the most religious ethnicities and as such, tend to rely more on their faith as opposed to seeking professional guidance for overcoming life experiences and traumas.
Strong persona - overall, Black people are deemed by others and deem themselves as very strong people, so much so that seeking mental healthcare is often perceived as a sign of weakness. Not true, seeking help is actually courageous and a sign of strength.
To start eliminating the mental health stigma, we must accept that a few things can be true: 1. It’s okay to not be okay. 2. It’s okay to seek mental health treatment when you are not okay. (And don’t let ANYONE tell you otherwise!) 3. Going to therapy does not automatically translate that something is wrong. People who invest in their mental health and wellness, have various reasons for seeking therapy - to include validation and support, overcoming difficult situations, coping with anxiety and depression, formulating better interpersonal skills, etc. Live in your truth, whatever that may be! I have personally attended therapy/counseling sessions on a couple of occasions and I enjoyed my experiences with it. At the time, I was hoping to gain healing from traumatic experiences, as well as an unbiased perspective and guidance.
So what can we do going forward to improve our mental wellness? I have a few suggestions…
Let’s all promote mental wellness, which is the idea of maintaining a stable and positive mindset, as well as possessing self-awareness to know when assistance may be needed to overcome difficulties.
Invest in you by taking positive actions to help you maintain a level head in a world of chaos. Go get that massage, go workout, eat a salad, do your nails/get your nails done, have a night to yourself reading a book, hang out with friends, take a course in something you’re passionate about, take a bubble bath, clean your house (cause believe it or not, cleanliness can create a better mental space).
Tap In, check in on your peoples. Wellness checks are a good way to do this; call or text the people you care about often and make sure they’re good.
Knowledge is power; Black people who are already conscious of the necessity of mental fortitude have a responsibility to educate others about mental health initiatives. Awareness eliminates the stigma and creates new improvements for mentally ill in policy, research, and service development. Seeking help to get through loss, grief, depression, anxiety, trauma, etc. is the best action that one can take for his/her mental stability.
Positive portrayals in the media - Changing the way mental illness is portrayed in media and sharing stories of people who overcome mental issues, can go a long way in promoting mental health awareness and validating why seeking treatment is beneficial.
Increase access to mental health services - availability of mental health treatment is paramount to the success of spreading awareness. Once we accept that mental help treatment can be beneficial, we have to have somewhere to go for it. One of the best innovations that came out of the pandemic, is the availability of therapists and counselors. Personally for me, having virtual access to a counselor, as opposed to trying to plan to go to an office on a regular basis, was very beneficial and convenient.
If you decide to seek mental healthcare, don’t be afraid to shop around if the first therapist/counselor you encounter does not work for you. Shopping around for someone to meet your needs, as opposed to disposing of the idea of treatment altogether, is tantamount to the success of your journey. Shopping around for a counselor/therapist that fits you is no different than shopping around for the best nail tech!
Going forward, how can you be an ally in the cause of promoting mental wellness? What positive things are you doing that help you maintain your mental stability? Leave a comment below!
