Counseling African Americans
People-First Language
client living with depression vs. client is depressed
Mental Health Stigma
negative reactions that ppl may experience after revealing they have a mental health disorder or have sought help for their mental health → public stigma
private stigma - rooted in how ppl view themselves for seeking treatment or experiencing mental health issues
What can mental health stigma look like in Black communities?
“we don’t suffer from mental illness”
stems from immunity hypothesis
“i’m strong enough to handle it on my own”
“our ancestors have been through much worse”
this does not mean Black communities don’t experience trauma from racism & oppression that is happening in the present-day
“keep it inside the family”
stems from misdiagnosis & overdiagnosis historically and in the present
meant to be protective but may not be anymore
“if i go to therapy, i don’t have enough faith”
Where did stigma come from in Black communities?
immunity hypothesis (1700s-1840s) - stated that enslaved ppl of African descent could not experience mental illness because they did not have the “stresses of profit making” (e.g., owning property or voting)
exaggerated risk hypothesis - claim made by 1840 census that free Black people experienced higher rates of mental illness
physicians were encouraged to argue that black people had more & different mental health issues from White people
drapetomania - disease causing enslaved Africans to run away
dysaethesis aethiopica - a disease affecting both the mind & body and causing lethargy and lesions
Promoting Resilience
How does stigma impact African American’s ability to receive mental health support?
stops them from reaching out
How can we shift the narrative about mental health?
in African American communities
dispel myths about mental health & therapy
normalize talking about your mental health & seeking help with your loved ones
talk about it as if you were talking about going to a physical wellness visit
in mental healthcare systems
access to quality appropriate and culturally responsive mental health care
building trust with Black communities
community-based treatment options
models of care that center Black experiences
create a pipeline of training Black mental health professionals and hiring them into the field AND leadership positions