Monday, November 13, 2017

Breaking Down Mental Illness Stigmas in the Black Community


 
by Erica Ayisi

Addressing mental illness within the African-American community has, at times, been a taboo topic. Yet, it is a medical condition that impacts every day life and should not be ignored.

The Office of Minority Health of the Department of Health and Human Services reports African-Americans are more likely to report having serious psychological distress than Non-Hispanic whites. Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and suicide are few mental health conditions African-Americans suffer from. Trauma, genetics, and environmental factors such as poverty and homelessness are some of the causes of mental illiness among black people.

Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, licensed psychologist and Founder of Therapy for Black Girls has been in the practice of mental health for eight years. After watching "Black Girls Rock" on BET in 2014, she was inspired to "capture some of that same energy in a space related to mental health" by creating a website that makes "mental health topics accessible and relevant to Black women."

Click here for the full article. 

Source: NBC News 

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