Friday, December 28, 2018

The Importance Of Black Mental Health

By Dorothy Watson


Given modern day ideas and ideals, it might be easy to assume that racism is a thing of the past. It could be that those who assume this are living on a mountain cave or something. After all, you hear about all kinds of news the whole world over delineating the horrible actualities and consequences of discriminative actions and perceptions. This is why special coping mechanisms like black mental health have been upheld and passed.

Of course, mental issues by themselves dont discriminate as is the wont of certain people. However, they are also contrived, in that they arent at all spontaneous developments. Rather, they evolve from a persons inner turmoil, non actualized wishes and hopes, and particular unique experiences.

Anyway, it wouldnt do to turn a blind eye and pretend that it doesnt exist with all the trappings of modernization. Also, history is something that anyone couldnt lightly ignore. As it is, even the thought of those days of yore is enough to drive home the idea that the world isnt fine and fair at all.

Given these facts, its not far fetched to establish that these distinct challenge actuate to a specialized offshoot of issues, including mental ones. Thats not to say that even mental issues and problems discriminate. Its just that the Blacks own brand of cultural and societal challenges translates to according different issues and such.

There are other telling counts as well. Accordingly, less than a minimal two percent of APA members are Black. Aside from the valid sentiments of underrepresentation, that also implies that practitioners are not well enough culturally competent to treat the specific issues unique to African Americans. Thats very much selfsame to an ivory tower approach where diagnostics are only textbook smart but fail to understand and empathize with the nub of the matter.

If we were to build upon Maslows quintessential Hierarchy of Needs, then it might be said that these experiences refused certain Blacks from achieving self actualization, that which could be emotionally or mentally burdensome to their well being. Compound that with the cumulative feelings of exclusion, discrimination, and the actualities of poverty, and we are painted an extremely bleak picture.

These enterprises work trans nationally in order to raise special awareness on these challenges. They believe that early and effective interventions are needed for those who suffer from psychological issues and illnesses. Anyhow, its no question that people of color do experience a unique challenge in accessing health services.

Severe forms of mental conditions result from unmet needs and other insuperable barriers. Nearly seven million black Americans have been reported to suffer diagnosable mental conditions. Compared to Caucasians, African Americans have lower rates of use outpatient mental health services, and accordingly have more barriers in seeking treatments.

Without the essential specialized support, the disenfranchised will have more complications when it comes to acting out their coping mechanisms. Especially with the cultural mannerisms of blacks in terms of ideas about openness in acknowledging their need for help seeking, its no wonder how many dont receive the help they need. Accordingly, they also need an innate understanding of the unique experiences of a group of people who by dint of unique perspectives and treatment, are exposed to unique emotions and experiences.




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