Black Health Compass

We’ve been on this journey together, shedding light on the hard truths and hopeful changes in mental health. It’s time to wrap things up, and the question is: Can we trust what the numbers are telling us about Black mental health disparities in our own home, Denver?

By the Stats: Where Denver Fails Black Minds

It’s not always comfy to look at the data, but here’s the deal:

• Lack of Black therapists in Denver We need more providers who look like us and understand our unique experiences. Just a handful of percentages compared to our population shows something is very wrong here.
• Higher rates of serious mental illness diagnoses among Black residents of Denver. Are we getting misdiagnosed, or is there a greater root cause no one is paying enough attention to?
• Lack of accessibility in culturally relevant therapy options here in Denver. Can someone afford and feel understood going to the first option on a list instead of getting someone that really gets them?

Roundup & Real Talk: Pulling It All Together

Over these posts, we’ve spoken about mental health stigmas, the value of community, how reaching for help is truly brave, and where systems are broken. This isn’t about laying blame. It’s about a wake-up call that sparks change.

Here’s my challenge to you, straight and Denver-strong:

“We gotta question everything… those stats, the reasons why people close to us suffer alone, why asking for help seems impossible. That’s how we become the fix for our people, by knowing this ain’t right.”

Change doesn’t start with big headlines, it starts with you and your circle of friends. Talk about this. Hold Denver accountable. Question things. Push for a better future. We get that future by working hard for it.

Let me know your thoughts!

Last time we tackled the inner barriers to seeking help. Now, let’s face the fact that navigating the mental health system itself is ANOTHER major hurdle – especially when most providers aren’t set up with us in mind. This guide cuts through the confusion.

Therapy Ain’t Just Lying on a Couch Let’s demystify what therapy CAN be, because there are options:

• Traditional talk therapy: If you have time/resources for sessions – great. BUT this is where finding the right match is HUGE.
• Skills-Based Therapy: More focused on managing specific stressors – good if you struggle with anxiety, mood stuff, etc.
• Group Therapy: Often surprisingly powerful (seeing shared struggle is part of the healing), plus can be more affordable
• Alternative Healers: Be discerning as NOT all are equal, but some incorporating movement, artistic stuff – that might speak to you

Know Thyself to Know What to Seek Before searching, get honest with yourself about:

• Your Budget: Does insurance suck? Are there sliding scale options? This impacts who you even call to be realistic
• Needs: Are you dealing with major trauma, a need for a diagnosis to get accommodations, etc.? Impacts types of providers you prioritize.
• Preferences: Do you WANT traditional 1-on-1 talking? Groups scare you? Be bold about saying this upfront as some approaches just won’t jive.

Your Interview Questions ARSENAL Calling intake lines is daunting. Prep like a job hunt:

• “Do you specialize in concerns common in Black populations [and get specific here about what YOU identify with – stress due to discrimination, PTSD from community violence, whatever feels valid.]”
• “How is your waiting list timeframe?” You have needs now, and months-long waits ain’t helpful
• “How flexible is your approach [If needing skills-based or out-of-the-box support]?”

It’s NOT About Instant BFF Vibes… But These Matter Therapy is work, so feeling respected, safe, and seen is a non-negotiable:

• Gut Check: Did they pronounce your name right? Seem interested in who you are beyond a checklist? This ain’t about pampering, this impacts feeling truly in-tune with them
• Open to Feedback: Good providers can handle you saying if stuff feels irrelevant – the good ones want to be told your culture needs to be respected here!
• It’s OK to Move On: Not every first try is perfect. Finding your FIT requires not settling out of fear it won’t get better.

Next Post: What If…Therapy Ain’t for Me? We’re diving into alternative wellness pathways. But also…sometimes your best support looks like friends, a faith community, a self-created coping routine… there’s NO shame if traditional forms feel wrong. Let’s build our arsenal wider.

Your Experience Did it suck trying to find therapy? What do you wish you knew back then? Comment, let’s make getting help less of a mystery for your whole community 🧠 💪🏾✊🏿✨

Let’s be real, fam. Even if we see the numbers and understand how our mental health is impacted by factors outside our control… there are barriers within our own community making it feel impossible to actually go get help. Time to air those out

Those “Harmless” Phrases We Gotta Retire You’ve heard them, we’ve ALL heard them, maybe said them:

• “Therapy is for white people”: Yikes. Dismisses that our unique experiences need culturally specific care.
• “You just need to pray harder” – Faith is part of who many of us are, but minimizing emotional pain or writing off therapy like it’s some moral defect is wrong.
• “Don’t air our dirty laundry”: Generational hush-hush mindset born from needing to survive brutal times…but in 2024? That silence only lets problems fester.

How Stigma HURTS Us

• Makes folks wait until crisis before getting help – which makes things even worse long-term.
• Shame about having these problems at all when EVERYONE gets stressed, overwhelmed, and hurting sometimes – that’s human.
• Isolates us – cutting us off from the very support structures that could make us even stronger as we figure things out.

Strength ISN’T Always What We Think Our ancestors? Masters of resilience in unspeakable circumstances. But resilience ISN’T always sucking it up alone. Let’s rewrite the definition:

• Strength: Recognizing needing help to face mental burdens so we CAN thrive on all levels.
• Strength: Honoring ancestors by demanding a healthcare system that serves us right, instead of expecting we adapt to one rigged against us.
• Strength: Talking openly, being a role model who defies expectations – THAT’s how we create generational change.

We Don’t Walk Alone…Even When it Feels That Way It’s gonna take more than blog posts…it’s building trustful friendships, holding uncles with those old-school mindsets accountable, showing up for therapy even when it’s messy. Healing happens IN community, NOT despite it.

Next Time: Your Roadmap Out of the Stigma Trap We’re giving space to the hard truth here, because denying stigma exists hurts us. Next up, let’s get practical! Ways to speak to someone pushing those toxic ideas, resources if you’re questioning IF that step to getting help is worth it… we’re navigating that together.

Your Voices What’s ONE phrase you’re tired of hearing about mental health? Tell us below – maybe the community can offer up better replacements 💪🏾🧠✊🏿✊🏽✊🏾💪🏿

In our last post, we uncovered the harsh numbers. But to truly change things, we need to go beyond seeing problems… let’s dig deeper into the system perpetuating them. And let’s be real – some truths get messy.

The Trauma We Inherit Let’s not sugarcoat it – the historical trauma of slavery, segregation, and ongoing discrimination doesn’t magically disappear. This manifests in our bodies and psyches in ways many healthcare providers just don’t get:

• Hypervigilance due to racial profiling or fearing violence
• Mistrust of healthcare systems fueled by past medical mistreatment
• Pressure to “be strong” at all costs, passed down for survival, but bottling this up leads to harm

Who’s in the Therapist’s Chair Matters When seeking help, finding therapists who understand these experiences is rare. It’s not just about skin color, but how many practitioners are trained to center cultural aspects in their approach? Without that, we get:

• Misdiagnoses that miss the core issues, leading to ineffective treatment.
• Feeling disrespected, not truly heard, leading many to give up even when feeling desperate

“Implicit Bias” – When “Objective” Isn’t Even well-meaning therapists carry unconscious biases. Those might look like attributing genuine distress to anger issues, dismissing concerns due to socioeconomic background, or minimizing pain because Black patients are wrongly assumed to have higher tolerance.

No Quick Fixes, But It’s Bigger Than Therapy Yes, we MUST empower ourselves with skills to navigate the existing mental health systems and find the right providers. But true change also needs:

• More BIPOC mental health professionals trained at ALL levels
• Trauma-informed approaches standard, especially in schools and health clinics
• Healthcare policy shifts addressing root causes like poverty, violence – this affects our minds too!

Don’t Let Messiness Mean Hopelessness This might sound heavy. It IS. But knowing the system is rigged helps us advocate and be smarter when seeking help. It also reminds us community IS healing, fighting for this change IS mental health work.

Next Up… Let’s tackle ways to combat stigma within the Black community. Our strength ISN’T sucking it up in isolation. Join us as we discuss overcoming internal barriers and why asking for help IS actually an act of courage.

Tell Us: In what ways, big or small, have you felt let down by the mental healthcare system? Share in the comments, we’re here to be honest together 👇🏿✊🏿✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿