48.Williams and Mohammed, 2008.
49.Hammond, Wizdom Powell, 2012. “Taking It Like a Man: Masculine Role Norms As Moderators Of The Racial Discrimination–depressive Symptoms Association Among African American Men,” American Journal of Public Health (102), S2:S232-S241. doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2011.300485.
50.Hammond, 2012.
51.Chatters, Linda M., Robert W. Taylor, Amanda Toler Woodward, and Emily J. Nicklett, 2015. “Social Support From Church and Family Members And Depressive Symptoms Among Older African Americans,” The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (23), 6:559–567. doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2014.04.008.
52.Hammond, 2012.
53.Hammond, 2012.
54.McGirt, Ashley. “Black Mental Health Matters.” Interview by Elizabeth Leiba. Black Power Moves, EBONY Covering Black America Podcast Network, January 18, 2022. open.spotify.com/episode/6ZMCKxycFzqsIscOWPsaTI?si=w3x5RvrUTNigMtgD05TT1A.
55.Isom, Jessica. “Breaking the Rules of Engagement on Racetalk.” Interview by Elizabeth Leiba. Black Power Moves, EBONY Covering Black America Podcast Network, June 18, 2022. open.spotify.com/episode/1YD0e9JS8EzlnKJwqImsh6?si=5B74gpicRhuqIxM3924yhQ.
chapter 4
systemic and
multifaceted
mental health
issues in the
Black community
“I think it’s really important to take the stigma away from mental health… My brain and my heart are really important to me. I don’t know why I wouldn’t seek help to have those things be as healthy as my teeth.”
—Kerry Washington
In the tapestry of our shared human experience, the subject of mental health is a thread that weaves its way through every fold. The psychological well-being of a community bears immeasurable significance in defining its essence, vitality, and future. Like an orchestra in a harmonious symphony, a community thrives when every participant can play their part in health and happiness. However, the Black community’s access to adequate mental health resources has historically been and remains a discordant note in this rousing symphony.
Historically, mental health care in the United States has been markedly deficient for people of color, particularly the Black community. Through the bleak corridors of time, stigma, underfunding, and the disturbing disruption of systemic racism have deterred access to mental health resources. While overall public acceptance of mental health care has surged forward, the proportion of accessible resources for the Black community lags stubbornly behind.
Consider the sparse representation of Black mental health practitioners. According to recent data collected by the American Psychological Association, a mere 4 percent of psychologists in the US are Black.56 It’s like expecting a single candle to illuminate an entire city at night; the enormity of the task renders the limited resource almost futile. This lack of representation not only presents a logistical problem, it also hinders the essential ingredient of understanding—the cultural sensitivity required to provide effective mental health care.
For the Black community, particularly Black women, the intersections of race, gender, and mental health create a unique conundrum. Black women juggle societal expectations, cultural norms, and systemic oppression. The result is a potent cocktail of stressors that amplifies their need for culturally sensitive mental health care. To borrow a phrase from the Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes, these stressors are the “dream deferred,” the burden that “sags like a heavy load.” Yet, the existing system often fails to meet their unique needs.
The daunting task of rectifying this inequity demands our immediate and deliberate attention. Affordable, culturally sensitive, and accessible mental health care must take precedence on our collective agenda. Strategies should include increasing federal funding for mental health resources in predominantly Black communities and incentivizing the training of more Black mental health practitioners.
Now, more than ever, the world is in a state of flux and tension. In the face of a global pandemic and surging social upheaval, mental health issues have found fertile ground to flourish. The pressures exerted upon the Black community have only been magnified in these extraordinary times, amplifying the importance of this mission. Like a clarion call in the midst of a storm, the need for significant change rings out.
To undertake this task is to walk the path toward healing, not just present-day, but also historical wounds. It is to acknowledge the tales of hardship etched into the spirit of the Black community, and to make a conscious choice to foster and nurture resilience instead of perpetuating suffering. This is more than an aspiration—it is an imperative. We are, after all, in pursuit of the promise of health and happiness for all. As the poet Maya Angelou once wrote, “Out of the huts of history’s shame, I rise.” Now is the time to ensure that the Black community, too, can rise.
Dr. Wizdom Powell, PhD, Chief Social Impact and Diversity Officer at Headspace and clinical psychologist, agrees that there is a pressing need to empower the Black community to create, receive, and embrace pathways for mental healthcare with accessible skills, strategies, and tools to navigate the trauma we experience daily.
I think that we have not really honored the tried-and-true traditions of becoming well in Black communities. We have been healing radically for four hundred plus years since 1619, and the fact that we are still here and not just here, like just existing, means that we’re thriving in some ways, even with all of the onslaught of racialized violence and degradation, we are still moving and shaking, and contributing to a world. Imagine a world without us in it. Like, I can’t.
We are doing so much daily to heal, grow, and thrive, and I think the first thing we have to do is honor those traditions, air them out, share those with the world, because people don’t get, how is it that they’re still here and still active and engaged and smiling at each other. How are we doing that? There’s wisdom that we need to share with the world.
The first narrative change—this idea that Black folk don’t want to get well, or that we don’t want to pay attention to our mental and emotional wellness, doesn’t really square up with all of the healing work we’ve been doing over time.
Secondly, we have to start having different conversations in our community about what constitutes strength. This idea that we’re supposed to leap over structural disadvantage, racialized violence, [and] systematic oppression in a single bound. It’s mythic, like superheroes are. We need to really start telling ourselves the truth about who we are and what we are here to do, [which] is to experience a range of emotions from anger to sadness to shame [to] disappointment. All of those are valid, and we have to honor that and hold space for those emotional experiences.
Third, we need to be helping each other find the pathways to those supports earlier on, so I’m really, really passionate about youth mental health, because if we don’t fight for them, then our children, their children’s children, and their children will have to do the work that we avoided.
Times have changed. But we have to still honor those traditions, and more importantly, we have to make it okay for us to have those issues. Stop telling people that they should push through adversity. Or when someone asks you, “How are you doing, Queen?” and you go, “Well, you know how I’m doing. I’m making it.” Tell the truth and shame the devil! Tell folks how you’re really doing, so folks can show up for you in the ways that we should show up for one another.57
Unseen, unheard, and often veiled in a shroud of silence and misunderstanding, mental health has long been a subject relegated to the margins in many communities. Yet none so deeply as in the Black community, where the stigma adheres with adhesive tenacity, insidiously shaping perceptions and barring access to critical resources. Within this intricate tapestry, Black women find themselves at a potent intersection, bearing the weight of this stigma while navigating the unique challenges posed by systemic racism and sexism.
The stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community is as multifaceted as it is deep-rooted. Historic misuse and mistrust of the healthcare system, cultural norms that prize stoicism and resilience, and a society that often overlooks the mental health needs of Black women all contribute to the stigmatization. This makes it harder for Black women to seek help, perpetuating a cycle where silence feeds stigma and stigma feeds silence.
Yet, within the silence, there are whispers of change. As we peel back the layers of mental health stigma, the path toward holistic healing and wellness comes into focus. A holistic approach embraces not only the mind, but also the body and spirit. It is not a mere absence of mental illness; it is a continuous practice of nurturing one’s complete well-being. This concept is far from alien to the Black community, resonating with the ancestral wisdom that speaks to interconnectedness and community healing.
Framing mental health within this holistic paradigm taps into the roots of ancestral strength and resilience that have guided Black communities through centuries of adversity. It promotes the understanding that mental health is not a standalone entity, but an essential facet of overall health and well-being. It underscores the recognition that mental health is not a personal failing, but a collective responsibility affected by societal structures and systemic forces.
This paradigm shift allows us to highlight how structural racism not only impacts socioeconomic conditions but also seeps into the psychological well-being of Black women, engendering stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. It raises the imperative need to dismantle these harmful structures to pave the way for true mental wellness.
This reframing of mental health creates a safe space for dialogue where experiences can be shared and understood without judgment. It validates seeking support as a testament to strength rather than a sign of weakness. It encourages healing practices that include traditional therapy, community support, self-care, and other therapeutic techniques that align with the cultural values and realities of Black women.
More importantly, destigmatizing mental health care in the Black community illuminates a pathway to healing that honors ancestral wisdom while addressing contemporary struggles. It elevates the narrative that mental health care is not merely an act of crisis management but a radical act of self-preservation, resistance, and affirmation of life.
To liberate mental health from the confines of stigma is to empower Black women to take ownership of their healing journey, to allow them to bear witness to their struggles, but also to their individual and collective power. It is an ongoing act of resistance against systemic forces that neglect their mental health. And in doing so, we weave a narrative of strength, resilience, and healing that is deserving of Black women and their mental wellness.
In the process of empowering ourselves to take control of the narrative and practices around our own mental health and well-being, it is important to understand the historical context. Taking care of our spirits, nurturing our sense of self, and leaning on the power of the collective have always been integral parts of our wellness practice as Black women, since antiquity.
One way to further these discussions and understandings is to explore alternative treatment methods rooted in ancestral traditions from across the African diaspora. A rich tapestry of holistic practices dating back thousands of years offers an array of strategies, from herbal remedies and spiritual rituals to communal therapies and physical exercises. These practices have provided holistic approaches to mental health care and are relevant to the modern Black woman in her search for more comprehensive and culturally sensitive methods of healing.
For instance, the practice of Ubuntu, originating from Southern Africa, is a philosophy that promotes the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity. Ubuntu can be understood as the belief in the interconnectedness and interdependence of all individuals within a community. It emphasizes the idea that one’s humanity is defined through their relationships with others. The term “Ubuntu” is derived from the Zulu and Xhosa languages, and can be translated as “I am because we are” or “humanity toward others.” It encompasses values such as compassion, empathy, respect, and communalism.
The principles of Ubuntu can encourage open dialogue and community support as essential components for maintaining mental health. In African societies, mental health is often viewed holistically, encompassing not only the individual but also their relationships and community. Ubuntu promotes a sense of belonging and social connectedness, which are crucial for mental well-being.
By embracing Ubuntu, individuals are encouraged to engage in open dialogue and communication, fostering a supportive environment where they can express their thoughts, emotions, and challenges without fear of judgment or stigma. This open dialogue allows for the sharing of experiences, the validation of emotions, and the development of coping strategies. Ubuntu also emphasizes the importance of community support, where individuals come together to provide assistance, guidance, and encouragement to those in need.58
Furthermore, Ubuntu promotes a sense of collective responsibility for the well-being of others. This communal approach to mental health encourages individuals to actively support and care for one another, reducing feelings of isolation and promoting a sense of belonging. Ubuntu recognizes that mental health is not solely an individual concern, but a collective responsibility.
This collective ethos encourages open dialogue and community support as essential components for maintaining mental health. The principles of Ubuntu could be integrated into mental health practices by fostering supportive networks for Black women, spaces where they can express their struggles and find mutual understanding and healing.
Similarly, African tradition recognizes the healing power of storytelling, an ancient practice where life experiences are shared and wisdom is passed down through generations. Storytelling serves as a tool for providing instruction, building community, nurturing the spirit, and sustaining a unique culture. Likewise, African American storytelling serves a higher purpose than conveying information or responding to a question. Storytelling develops connections between people and ideas, serving as one of the most important traditions within both African and African American cultures. It connects African Americans through their shared culture, history, and ideals. By sharing stories of mental health discovery and practice in person, online, and in community spaces, the process of destigmatizing help-seeking can flourish.
Particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in online spaces dedicated to Black women sharing their stories of healing and taking care of their mental health. There are organizations that have made it much easier for Black women to get connected. For example, “Therapy for Black Girls,” founded by Joy Harden Bradford, PhD, compiles a useful directory of therapists, produces a podcast, publishes a weekly newsletter, and hosts a free weekly support group.
“Inclusive Therapists” provides therapists with racial trauma training to ensure health care providers look at mental health holistically. The organization has a directory of professionals, and many of them offer reduced-price virtual sessions. In addition, online support groups like Sista Afya’s free virtual conversations make sharing experiences easier and more accessible. Their group sessions focus on how to reclaim your time, create boundaries, and prioritize rest in a world that praises accomplishments.
