Let Me Black in Peace: Mental Health in the Black Community

With 2020 leaving an indelible mark on all of us, it has disproportionately affected the Black community with higher rates of COVID-19, while highlighting already present wounds that are just now receiving widespread national attention.

One topic that has gone largely unaddressed is the level of stigma present within the Black community concerning mental health.

According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress, such as sadness, hopelessness, and feeling like everything is an effort. Black adults living below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress than those living above it.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that despite the needs, only one in three Black or African American adults who need mental health care receive it, citing a study that showed that 63 percent of African Americans believe that a mental health condition is a personal sign of weakness. NAMI also says that spiritual leaders are a common avenue for support, while this can help with the recovery process, it should not be the only option.

As part of our Community Impact Series, MFCF will host a virtual event “Let Me Black in Peace” for National Minority Health Month. Panelists will discuss mental health in the African American community. Why is mental health stigmatized in the Black community? What resources are available to receive mental health care?

Join for a conversation with a great set of mental health professionals with the goal of working to erase the stigma associated with mental health in the Black community.

Confirmed

Moderator: Tameka Arnold

Panelists:

• Kennisya Adams, Ahava Counseling & Mediation Practice
• Brittany S. Lewis, M.Ed, LPC, The Therapy Corner
• Charnell Hollier, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist
• Caleb Boswell, MA, LLPC
• Giovanni Chisholm