“During slavery you were supposed to be the strong one. You weren’t supposed to speak. You were supposed to just do,” said Esney M. Sharpe, founder and CEO of Bessie Mae Women’s Health Center.
Avoiding emotion was a survival mechanism, which became a cultural habit for African American women and serves as a significant barrier to treatment for mental illness.
Depression is a thing
Government statistics state that depression is a major public health problem that has deleterious effects on the overall population. African American women are consistently confronted with many stressors that impact everyday living. Studies show that African American women low socio-economic position in America and consistent experience of institutionalized racism and sexism may provoke mental and emotional harm leading to anxiety and feelings of sadness.
“Anyone can experience mental illness. There is no group, gender, sexual identity, race or cultural belief that can prevent it from occurring,” says Erica Martin Richards, M.D., Ph.D., “And it’s actually happening at higher rates than in most other illness, including heart diseases, diabetes and cancer.”
Richards continues to say that this is especially true for minority women. “Women are at least twice as likely to experience an episode of major depression as men. And compared to their Caucasian counterparts, African American women are only have as likely to seek help.” But why are black women lease likely to seek help with this serious issue? Dr. Richards helps us to understand further:
Part of the challenge in getting care is the cultural belief that only people who are “crazy” or “weak” see mental health professionals. “There’s a feeling in a lot of black communities that women have to be strong and stoic,” Richards explains. “Women are so busy taking care of everyone else — their partners, their elderly parents and their children — they don’t take care of themselves. However, women should be reminded that attending to their own needs, whether physical or emotional, doesn’t make you weak. It makes you better able to care for your loved ones in the long run.”
Sound familiar?
Do you feel this is true in your own community and family? When I read this quote from Dr. Richards it hit home for me. I see this a reality in my community, my life and the lives of the women around me. The idea of the “strong black woman” image has made it seem that we have an invisible armor that is impenetrable. But we all know the truth. We hurt just like anyone else. And if truth be told many black women do not seek help because they feel no one really cares about our physical, mental or emotional health.
This proves to be true in medical and other professional areas. Systemic racism ensures that for black women who receive treatment, many do not receive adequate treatment. Hector M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. and colleagues at Wayne State University, Detroit, found overall that half of Americans with major depression in a given year receive treatment. However, only one-fifth receive treatment consistent with current practice guidelines.
The strong black woman and black culture
A black motto you may have heard is “If anyone can do it, momma can.” The prevailing portrait for black women is that of strength, independence, dominance, self-assuredness, and accomplishment. And while some of that can sound good, we’ve been these things because we’ve had to be. Being strong all time kills vulnerability, which is the essence of femininity: the art of receiving.
It’s true that black people are less likely than other groups to even acknowledge depression or mental health as a serious problem. Research at Mental Health America found that African Americans are more likely to believe that depression is normal, and 56 percent of black people believe depression is a normal part of aging. Does this sound alarming? No, right? If you have lived the typical black experience you’ve sung the song, “It’s a hard-knock life for us.”
The disparity is real too
If black women experience higher rates of depression than white women do but receive lower rates of adequate treatment, what is the result? If black women are one of the most undertreated groups for mental illness but are forced to live work and compete on the same level, if not higher levels than our counterparts, what price do we pay? The price is paid in many ways on our mental and emotional health.
We discussed disparities due to racism and socio-economic class; we’ll also discuss how poverty and inadequate healthcare help fuel this problem of undertreatment.
Poverty, single motherhood and the church
According to the National Poverty Center, poverty rates for black people greatly exceed the national average. Also, poverty rates are highest for families headed by mothers. According to 2011 government statistics, 69 percent of black babies are born to unmarried mothers today compared to 28 for non-Hispanic whites and 52 for Hispanic whites; these statistics are likely higher today. Poverty is another large reason that black women forgo mental health treatment. Diane P. Brown, a professor of Health Education of Behavioral Science at Rutgers School of Public Health co-authored a book, In and out of our Right Minds: The Mental Health of African American Women, which shows a correlation between socio-economic status and poor physical and mental health.
With so many black women in such a predicament you start to wonder how black women and families survive. When all else fails, its been faith that carries black women through. African Americans according to research are more likely than the overall public to be Christian (79 percent), according to a Pew Research study. However black women are shown to be more religious (80 percent) than black men (69 percent). It’s been shown that men are generally less religious then women. You would think most of the churches in black communities would have special health and mental health services available to the many women that show up to church every Sunday morning. However, most do not.
You will more than likely hear the phrase, “Just pray about it.”
You would think that if sisters are the most loyal, faithful, religious group in this country, serving a God that is all powerful and loving, black women would be in a much better predicament mentally, physically, financially and emotionally. In many respects, the black woman has become more powerless and subject to her environment and socio-economic standards.
Has church failed us?
Is the church responsible for our mental and emotional health? Are churches in the black community actually beneficial to the community it is placed in?
These are important questions worth discussing, however, the focus should be on resolutions. What are somethings that we can do to find help for ourselves as black women in a world where we are seemingly placed last in line? Here are seven suggestions that can help you on your journey to mental health.
7 Suggestions To Combat Depression And Anxiety:
- Therapy is not of the devil – If you feel that you need help, get help. Sometimes it is a matter of just having someone dedicated and armed with resources to help you through your circumstances. This does not have to be continual for the rest of your life. It’s up to you. If you are interested in therapy, visit the resources page for more information on where to find a therapist near you.
- Guard your heart – Proverbs 4:23 KJV states, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” This has to be one of the most important scriptures in the Bible. Sometimes it can be difficult to guard your heart because you may be too busy living for someone else. You, YES YOU, are important too. Guarding or keeping your heart means to guard those things that affect your life. Guard what you watch because it affects how you think. Guard the people you let in your life because they can shipwreck your destiny. Think of a mega-super star. Would you typically see a mega-super star just walking down the street in a random neighborhood? Think of someone like the late Michael Jackson or Beyoncé. They would likely be trampled to death if they were not guarded. That is why mega-stars are in communities with people who are similar to them. Even when in public they usually are guarded. Keep this in mind when letting people into your circle. Think like a movie star! (Sort of…) Let your light shine but know not everyone is meant to share your light, because their job might be to dim it. Also, guard what you hear. This is UBER important. Your mind takes in information consciously and subconsciously. If you listen to music that makes you feel degraded or desperate or worthless, stop listening and stop supporting! Mental conditioning comes through what you see and hear. Guard your heart by guarding these areas of your life.
- Get around good people and do fun activities, Make time for it. – In college part of my stress relief was in fun activities with a friend. Taking a break from studying to spend time cooking a meal with a friend was a small thing that helped tremendously. Bonding with other people is particularly important; God made us for community. Spend a moment, or two, sharing time with a friend. Make it fun.
- Exercise – One of the hardest things to do when you don’t want to do anything is to do something. Doing something feels too hard at times. However, studies show that exercise helps to relieve stress. Here is some information from the Mayo Clinic on Exercise and Stress Relief.
- Meditate – Meditating can help relax your mind and put your focus on the right things. The internet is littered with all types of meditation techniques; however, I only subscribe to one. Read my article The Power of Meditation: 4 ways on How to Meditate Like a Cow.
- Do the opposite of what you feel – When you feel sad or anxious, you likely don’t want to go anywhere or do anything. Many women with oppressive feelings of sadness don’t want to get out of the bed. Instead of letting those feelings permeate your being and take over, do the opposite. Get out of the bed, take a shower and get dressed. You know the motto, “When you look good, you feel good”? Well, I know this does not apply to every situation but there is a difference in mindset when you are dressed like you are going to bed and dressed to go out. Train your mind to do things differently. A great book to read on this is called Switch On Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking and Health by Dr. Caroline Leaf. The book discusses neuroscientific research confirming that what you are thinking every moment of your day becomes a physical reality in your brain and body, which affects your optimal mental and physical health. Also, it shown that smiling can make people feel happier. So, smile for 20 seconds, smile big as if you are holding a pencil between your teeth. I’ve tried this and it has worked on several occasions. Train yourself to do and think about things differently.
- Know that you are not alone – Feelings of sadness and anxiety are an epidemic, it’s likely a greater pandemic than the current one we are facing with COVID-19. Know that you are not alone. There are people that can and will help you. God wants to see you thrive. Remember, if you are a believer, you are never alone, because God Spirit is working in you. “Being confident of this very thing, that He that begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6 KJV)
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