The way we talk about things can often influence the way we think about them. In the field of mental health, we are familiar with “person first” language. This is language that prioritizes the identity of individuals as human beings with unique experiences and identities over their mental health status.
www.mhanational.org
July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Also known as BIPOC Mental Health Month. Bebe Moore Campbell was an advocate for the mental health needs of Black and other underserved and underrepresented communities.
Let’s face it. The BIPOC community is suffering. We have been suffering for a very long time.
Therapy has always had a lingering stigma in my community. Therapy was considered “telling people all of your business” and that was greatly frowned upon.
What I have learned is that we often push traumas aside so that we don’t have to face them. You cannot heal anything you don’t acknowledge. In my own personal healing journey, I have begun to address things that I didn’t realize were affecting me. Things that we deemed “normal” but were actually traumatic experiences. Trauma can often be carried throughout generations. I vow to break the generational traumas in my family so that my children can know and practice good mental health habits.
The largest benefit of having a therapist who reflects your identity is that there may be a greater understanding based on some shared experiences. While every person’s experiences are different, there is no mistaking that walking in the world with darker skin informs your perspective," said Jor-El Caraballo, founder of Viva Wellness.
I can certainly tell you that connecting with the proper therapist could have saved me a lot of anxiety and grief long ago. I’ve become the voice in my family for making sure they know how important it is to prioritize mental health. Mental health is just as important as your physical and spiritual health. No, it is not always an easy conversation to have, but it is necessary.
There are often hesitancies around “sitting on the couch,” and I understand. Many people don’t know where to begin. The first thing to do would be to check with your insurance provider for therapists/counselors that are available in your network. If your place of employment offers an Employee Assistance Program, therapists/counselors may be available through that channel as well.
Here are some resources that I have found helpful on my journey, and I hope that something in this post can resonate with you.
#OwnVoices at Richland Library is a way for African American staff to provide thoughtful and well written book reviews, book lists and blog posts to promote African American authors and their work about the African American experience. The series invites our customers to learn one more way we are continuing the conversation in our community and speaking our voice. Find more resources on race, equity and inclusion, here.