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 👇🏿✊🏿✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿
