African Americans and Mental Health Issues
Increasing Awareness
Jackson State University
June 8, 2013, 11:00 am
By
Dr. Rachell N. Anderson
African Americans are a resilient people who withstood slavery and discrimination and most of us have survived, thrived to live healthy productive lives. Rates of mental health in African American are similar to those of the general population in spite of the fact that throughout our history in the United states, and still today, inequities in accessing our rights and privileges, in education, employment, and health care.
A disproportionate number of us we face an extreme amount of mental illness including depression, anxiety and emotional stress.
Many of us are in desperate need of mental health treatment and don’t get it. We bare a disproportionately high burden of disability resulting from mental disorders. This disparity does not stem from a greater prevalence rate or severity, but from a lack of culturally competent care, and from receiving less or poor quality care.
Here are some of the complaints I have about the system in which I worked and made a very nice living and loved the work so mush that I volunteer clinical hours each week to people who have jobs but no mental Health Insurance.
African Americans are not being trained in great numbers as psychologists, psychiatrists, or Psychiatric Social workers. Presently, only 2% of the psychologists are black but that doesn’t mean that Blacks aren’t interested in the field. In undergraduate schools, 7% who graduate are Black but the number dips sharply for graduate school. The year I graduated with my Doctorate degree, 2 of us in the entire United States were conferred with the degree.
The number of Black Professors in Psychology Departments is even more dismal. In 1996, most of the high powered departments at Harvard, Carnagie Mellon, University of Minnesota, University of Illinois and University of Pennsylvania had not one Black Professor. By 2008, each had implemented successful recruiting programs to increase both the number of students and Professors.
This suggests few people are being trained to deal with us. For this and many other reasons, people of color are under-served in the mental health system .
Unlike a physical illness, which usually has easily recognizable symptoms that are similar in most individuals, a mental illness can be as unique as the person who has it and requires knowing the person, his or issues and habits to make a differential diagnosis.
African Americans are not all the same. Culturally, we are more diverse now than any other time in history with increasing numbers of immigrants from African nations, the Caribbean, Central America and other countries. Culture, (not just skin color) plays a complex role in understanding the person, and diagnosing the problem and reaction to treatment.
There is still a mental health stigma in America especially among African Americans.
Like many Americans, African Americans, underestimate the impact of mental disorders. Many believe symptoms of mental illness, such as depression, are “just the blues or that the person is not living right.
Only one out of three African Americans who need mental health care receives it. Some of this is because of problems in the system and some of it is because of what we do or don’t do.
Many of us, distrust in the health care system (and for good reason). The Tuskegee Airmen incidents are very close to home.
Historically, mental health research included few African American subjects. Cultural identity encompasses distinct patterns of belief and practices that have implications for one’s willingness to seek treatment from and to be adequately served by mental health care providers. Conclusions reached in the mental health research about the causes of illnesses and effects of treatments can’t assume effectiveness with these groups. Culturally competent care is important.
For some disorders, such as schizophrenia and mood disorders, there is a high probability of mis-diagnosis because of differences in how African Americans express symptoms of emotional distress. And while the rate of substance use among African American is lower than other Ethnicities, alcohol and drugs are responsible for more deaths in people of color than any other chronic disease in the U.S.
African Americans are more likely to stop treatment early and are less likely to receive follow-up care.
Barriers remain in access to and quality of care from, insurance coverage. For those with insurance, coverage for mental health services and substance use disorders is substantially lower than coverage for other medical illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes.
Often, African Americans turn to family, church and community to cope. The level of religious commitment among African Americans is high. In one study, approximately 85 percent of African Americans respondents described themselves as “fairly religious” or “religious” and prayer was among the most common way of coping with stress. Strong social, religious, and family connections have helped many African Americans overcome adversity and maintain optimal mental health.
Other’s remember that African Americans got Religion because that’s all they could have.” They couldn’t have land, houses, spouses, children or even their own name. Each were commodities up for sale to the highest bidder.
What can we do to increase awareness?
1. I write.
2. Prevention is more effective than cure. Because African Americans often turn to community – family, friends, neighbors, community groups and religious leaders – for help, the opportunity exists for community health services to collaborate with local churches and community groups to provide mental health care and education to families and individuals.
3. An illness like depression affects a person’s friends, family and job, and the reverse can be true as well. The way to tell if treatment is needed is to look at the degree to which at least 3 areas of your life are affected (family, friends, work) and a person’s overall sense of well-being are hurt or hindered by factors relating to a person’s mental and/or emotional state.
4. Just as family can aid in the accurate diagnosis, family participation can aid in managing the disorder and they can help family members to remain in Treatment.
5. Get the word out that Seeking help is not a sign of weakness or a cause for shame. Despite the narrow and stigmatizing views that may be held by others or reinforced in the media, seeking mental health treatment reflects good judgment and a willingness to work toward feeling better.
6. Mental health treatment is confidential. Only your insurance needs to be notified of dates and diagnosis if you want them to pay for office visits and medications.
7. A mental Health diagnosis does not define you, and with the right treatment, your illness does not have to limit you.
It’s important to find the professional that you can trust.
© Rachell N. Anderson, Psy. D. June 6, 2013
Increasing Awareness
Jackson State University
June 8, 2013, 11:00 am
By
Dr. Rachell N. Anderson
African Americans are a resilient people who withstood slavery and discrimination and most of us have survived, thrived to live healthy productive lives. Rates of mental health in African American are similar to those of the general population in spite of the fact that throughout our history in the United states, and still today, inequities in accessing our rights and privileges, in education, employment, and health care.
A disproportionate number of us we face an extreme amount of mental illness including depression, anxiety and emotional stress.
Many of us are in desperate need of mental health treatment and don’t get it. We bare a disproportionately high burden of disability resulting from mental disorders. This disparity does not stem from a greater prevalence rate or severity, but from a lack of culturally competent care, and from receiving less or poor quality care.
Here are some of the complaints I have about the system in which I worked and made a very nice living and loved the work so mush that I volunteer clinical hours each week to people who have jobs but no mental Health Insurance.
African Americans are not being trained in great numbers as psychologists, psychiatrists, or Psychiatric Social workers. Presently, only 2% of the psychologists are black but that doesn’t mean that Blacks aren’t interested in the field. In undergraduate schools, 7% who graduate are Black but the number dips sharply for graduate school. The year I graduated with my Doctorate degree, 2 of us in the entire United States were conferred with the degree.
The number of Black Professors in Psychology Departments is even more dismal. In 1996, most of the high powered departments at Harvard, Carnagie Mellon, University of Minnesota, University of Illinois and University of Pennsylvania had not one Black Professor. By 2008, each had implemented successful recruiting programs to increase both the number of students and Professors.
This suggests few people are being trained to deal with us. For this and many other reasons, people of color are under-served in the mental health system .
Unlike a physical illness, which usually has easily recognizable symptoms that are similar in most individuals, a mental illness can be as unique as the person who has it and requires knowing the person, his or issues and habits to make a differential diagnosis.
African Americans are not all the same. Culturally, we are more diverse now than any other time in history with increasing numbers of immigrants from African nations, the Caribbean, Central America and other countries. Culture, (not just skin color) plays a complex role in understanding the person, and diagnosing the problem and reaction to treatment.
There is still a mental health stigma in America especially among African Americans.
Like many Americans, African Americans, underestimate the impact of mental disorders. Many believe symptoms of mental illness, such as depression, are “just the blues or that the person is not living right.
Only one out of three African Americans who need mental health care receives it. Some of this is because of problems in the system and some of it is because of what we do or don’t do.
Many of us, distrust in the health care system (and for good reason). The Tuskegee Airmen incidents are very close to home.
Historically, mental health research included few African American subjects. Cultural identity encompasses distinct patterns of belief and practices that have implications for one’s willingness to seek treatment from and to be adequately served by mental health care providers. Conclusions reached in the mental health research about the causes of illnesses and effects of treatments can’t assume effectiveness with these groups. Culturally competent care is important.
For some disorders, such as schizophrenia and mood disorders, there is a high probability of mis-diagnosis because of differences in how African Americans express symptoms of emotional distress. And while the rate of substance use among African American is lower than other Ethnicities, alcohol and drugs are responsible for more deaths in people of color than any other chronic disease in the U.S.
African Americans are more likely to stop treatment early and are less likely to receive follow-up care.
Barriers remain in access to and quality of care from, insurance coverage. For those with insurance, coverage for mental health services and substance use disorders is substantially lower than coverage for other medical illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes.
Often, African Americans turn to family, church and community to cope. The level of religious commitment among African Americans is high. In one study, approximately 85 percent of African Americans respondents described themselves as “fairly religious” or “religious” and prayer was among the most common way of coping with stress. Strong social, religious, and family connections have helped many African Americans overcome adversity and maintain optimal mental health.
Other’s remember that African Americans got Religion because that’s all they could have.” They couldn’t have land, houses, spouses, children or even their own name. Each were commodities up for sale to the highest bidder.
What can we do to increase awareness?
1. I write.
2. Prevention is more effective than cure. Because African Americans often turn to community – family, friends, neighbors, community groups and religious leaders – for help, the opportunity exists for community health services to collaborate with local churches and community groups to provide mental health care and education to families and individuals.
3. An illness like depression affects a person’s friends, family and job, and the reverse can be true as well. The way to tell if treatment is needed is to look at the degree to which at least 3 areas of your life are affected (family, friends, work) and a person’s overall sense of well-being are hurt or hindered by factors relating to a person’s mental and/or emotional state.
4. Just as family can aid in the accurate diagnosis, family participation can aid in managing the disorder and they can help family members to remain in Treatment.
5. Get the word out that Seeking help is not a sign of weakness or a cause for shame. Despite the narrow and stigmatizing views that may be held by others or reinforced in the media, seeking mental health treatment reflects good judgment and a willingness to work toward feeling better.
6. Mental health treatment is confidential. Only your insurance needs to be notified of dates and diagnosis if you want them to pay for office visits and medications.
7. A mental Health diagnosis does not define you, and with the right treatment, your illness does not have to limit you.
It’s important to find the professional that you can trust.
© Rachell N. Anderson, Psy. D. June 6, 2013
