I have to admit that the last few weeks have been a bit of a struggle. The news just goes from bad to worse. It’s rare that they report on anything positive. Or is it just me? Politics. Global warming. Inflation. Trump. Racism. (redundant) I mean, talk of civil wars and s#*t! Really? It’s a bit much for anyone.
Now, throw in the fact that over a period of three days last week, my property was burglarized, not once, but twice! The balls on these three clowns to rob me TWICE! It is difficult at times not to feel a tad hopeless and depressed. You know, moments when you feel like, OMG, what is the f******g point? Sometimes it lasts for moments. Sometimes hours. Sometimes all day! Fortunately, I snap out of it. It doesn’t go on for more than a day or worse, weeks!
Most days are good days. I wake up motivated and excited for the possibilities. Energized and ready to rock! I think most people experience brief periods such as those I’ve described. Of course, there are some other issues with anxiety stemming from childhood that I need to deal with, but for the most part I think I’m pretty okay. Friends and family might debate the matter, but I feel like I’m okay. We all have our issues. We just have to keep learning, and hopefully growing.
But what I want to address in this post, are the prolonged periods of sadness and despair. As the daughter of a mother who suffered bouts of depression that landed her in the hospital on multiple occasions, I definitely have some personal experiences with mental illness. My mother was a victim of her childhood. Having had an institutionalized mother herself, I’m guessing there was some neglect. Just like me, she lost her mother at a very young age. To some degree, both robbed of our childhoods. An abused wife who as I understand it, fled with us! And who knows what else she may have endured in her 43 years on earth.
So, a few years ago I wrote a pilot for sitcom about mental illness. I know! A comedy about mental illness seems odd. But I wanted to bring awareness to it and what other way than through comedy? I’m hoping one day soon to get it into the right hands. But in preparing to write the script, I did quite a bit of research on the topic of mental illness specifically in the African American community where the story takes place. Here are some of the things I learned.
Only one in three African American adults who need mental health care receive it.
According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black folks are more likely to experience symptoms of emotional distress and hopelessness.
Why? Well, let’s start with the fact that my peeps have often been victims of discrimination, and racism! They more often experience feelings of inequity. Feeling “less than.” We carry slavery in our DNA! Perhaps having so many of us living below the poverty line contributes to these feelings. The lack of financial security. Now that so many are experiencing this, post covid, perhaps more people have gained a better understanding of the serious psychological distress that financial insecurity can cause. Now throw in the straight up socioeconomic disparities like the lack of access to health and social resources, and it is pretty easy to understand why those issues persist.
But hell, let’s take it back to childhood trauma. ACE’s is what they are called. (Adverse childhood experiences) They can include physical or sexual abuse, or being exposed to violence, substance abuse, mental illness or even suicide. Even things many don’t really associate with trauma, such as losing a parent, whether to death, divorce, or incarceration. All these things put kids (particularly black kids) at risk for PTSD. (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) As far back as 2001, the Office of the US Surgeon General stated 25% of African American youth exposed to violence (Whether in the house or in the hood!) were proven to be at higher risk for PTSD. I can only imagine how much that number has increased in the last 20 years.
Now let’s talk about the other issue. STIGMA! There is no secret that there is a stigma ESPECIALLY (BUT, NOT ONLY) in the black community surrounding mental health. I’ve had brothers say to me, they don’t believe in depression. To hear them tell it, “They’re just soft!” I’ve heard more than a few times. Of course, the stigma surrounding mental health doesn’t just exist in the black community. But what’s the deal?
Well, one study showed that 63% of Black folks believe that a mental health condition is a sign of weakness. Like I said, it’s viewed as being “soft!” As a result, Black folk are more reluctant to acknowledge it, much less seek out treatment. And, when we do accept there is a problem, we are more likely to go to the Pastor at church, than seek professional diagnosis and treatment. “We can just pray it away!” NOPE.
But I want to go back to the youth and the younger generation for a second. In the past 2-3 weeks, there have been two high profile suicides by African Americans aged 30 and under. And that’s not to say, that the local teenager who committed suicide a few weeks prior that I read about, did not matter. The point I am attempting to make by mentioning the Former Miss USA, Cheslie Kryst or Queen Regina King’s son Ian Alexander, is that these two young people who from the outside, looking in would have appeared to be living a dream life that most would envy, were hurting. Mental illness doesn’t care about your bank account. Mental illness does not care who your momma is! It’s real and our young folks are suffering. What is even more sad is that unlike most, they would probably have had access to help. And perhaps they sought help and just were unable to get the help they needed. Nonetheless it is just heartbreaking. Such loss. I cannot begin to imagine the pain that their parents have endured these past few weeks. What must a person be going through that they leap from a building? You just never know what folks are going through. Silently suffering.
One thing I feel the need to mention is that both mentioned social media being an issue for them. Kryst mentioned internet trolls leaving mean and insulting comments about her not being pretty enough, or body shaming her! Alexander said something similar.
I could relate to issues Kryst included in an essay published in Allure Magazine where she reflected on her fear of aging. But at 29? She feared aging stating, “Society has never been kind to those growing old, especially women. Turning 30 feels like a cold reminder that I’m running out of time to matter in society’s eyes, and it’s infuriating,” she added. I can certainly relate to those feelings now and it can depress me, (until I shift my thinking to I’m still here!) but at 29? What is going on? Well, one obvious issue is social media.
A clear link between depression and anxiety in our youth and social media has been established. “Experts have found that social media use appears linked to negative mental health impacts among young people. Researchers have noted a rise in depression among young people since about 2012”
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-07-20/social-media-is-a-public-health-crisis
According to a study published by the American Medical Association in 2021, “Social media has been associated with diminished well-being and greater levels of anxiety and depression.” a 2018 study published in the. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology Strongly advocated for limiting use of social media platforms to less than 30 minutes per day, stating it could lead to significant improvement in well-being.
I mean, you’ve got folks, not just kids and teens, but grown folks, cyberbullying. It’s easier for people to be mean hiding behind a device. In my personal opinion, many of these young folks that grew up with devices just plain ole lack social skills! They wouldn’t look anyone in the eye and say the things they type. Hell, they don’t even know to look you in the eye while they give you incorrect change because without devices, they can’t even count! Being cruel is easy from the safety of your bedroom. But, why are folks so damn cruel in the first damn place? Social media, in many ways disconnect us. No one is present.
Social media is pretty new for me. I’ve never really felt the need to share my every move in real time or to track anyone else is. Even now most of the time that I spend on social media is to promote my blog or I’m looking at food and recipes. I’m learning something. (And not just where someone bought some shoes!) On the off chance that I do look at a post I’m always shocked by the negative, and just plain ole mean and hateful comments that people leave. Was it just my mother that said, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say S*#T!” And she did say shit. A LOT!
And I’m quite sure I mentioned this recently in a post, but the filters! THE FILTERS!
I mean Snap Chat gives you the ability to alter your appearance with filters. You can actually change your face. Improve your skin. They’re praying on people’s insecurities, and it’s sad. If you have low self-worth to begin with, these things can have a tremendously negative impact!
And sadly, data has shown that black youth are especially prone to develop mental health issues. Unfortunately, they are also the least likely to speak out. They and their parents or guardians are less likely to be referred for mental health evaluations or services, and when they are, many don’t follow through.
“In the three years between 2015 and 2018, major depressive episodes in Black teens increased by 14 percent, and suicide attempts by Black youth increased by 73 percent between 1991 and 2017. For all age groups of Black Americans, reports of serious mental illness have been on the rise for more than a decade.”
And don’t get me started on schizophrenia. Black folks are diagnosed twice as often as non-Hispanic whites with schizophrenia. I find it odd that I have not one, not two, not three, but four female friends with sons that suffer from schizophrenia. I can’t help but wonder why that is, but I will save that for another post. What I do know is that some of them struggled with getting their children the help that they needed despite numerous attempts over many years. With treatment, they could have the potential to lead independent and normal lives. I say that to say, the system has failed these mothers and that needs to change! Again, I will save that for another post.
There can be many contributing factors to mental illness. These include childhood trauma, adult trauma, chemical imbalances, and heredity. I personally can’t help but believe that what we put in our bodies has played a role in the increasing mental illness crisis.
It is refreshing to see those in the public eye acknowledge and address these issues. Especially since so many people seem to obsess over the lives of celebrity. Some are using their fame and their platforms to help others and I commend them for stepping up, being brave, and sharing their stories.
One of the reasons I write this blog is to share my stories and to share the things that I learn. I have long felt that my purpose was to help others whether it be teaching folks how to eat well, motivating others to get and stay healthy, or simply by writing something that made them laugh!
The bottom line is we can no longer bury our heads in the sand and deny the mental health crisis, no more than we can ignore our physical health. Often, they are related and while many require treatment, counseling and even medications, there are things we can all do to improve our physical and mental well-being. Physical activity has been shown to improve mental well-being. The food you eat can make you feel good or make you feel bad! What we feed not only our bodies, but our minds, can cause unhappiness and depression. Toxins are not always chemicals. Sometimes they are people and environments. Social media can be a toxic environment and an addiction.
And lastly if you or someone you know needs help, get it, or try to help them to get help.
I will assemble some resources and publish them for those that are interested. I personally know that how difficult it is to acknowledge your own issues. Also, how hard it is to watch others, close to you that are in denial suffer, and not fulfill their true potential. With adults, you do what you can. You can’t fix others. You can’t force them to seek help. For some, it’s like you aren’t sure your car needs repairs until it breaks down, but often there are signs. The key is not to ignore them. Because like the car, it won’t fix itself! It only gets worse, so pay attention! Sometimes you need major repairs. Sometimes, you just need a tune up!