As a Black woman living with mental illness, I’ve been told plenty of times by other Black people that I should not talk about my experience managing my mental health condition. That sentiment is always frustrating and discouraging to hear. The pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness in the Black community often makes me feel like my life is embarrassing and that I must hide a major part of myself. Sometimes, this shame can be too much to bear. But it also led me to wonder: How widespread is mental illness itself in the Black community? I figured that understanding the statistics would make it easier to erase the stigma. I did some research, and as it turns out, I am certainly not the only Black person experiencing mental illness. Among the nearly 5 million Black people living with a mental illness, nearly a quarter reported having a serious condition, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, among many others. Despite that sizeable number, only 1 out of every 3 seek suitable treatment, which could include meeting with a mental health professional, such as a social worker, therapist or psychiatrist. While there are many factors contributing to the discrepancy between prevalence and people seeking adequate treatment — ranging from the prevalence of misdiagnosis to the lack of access to adequate medical care — stigma in the Black community still remains an insidious culprit. The Black community, and truly all communities, can engage in four activities to help get rid of stigma around mental illness. 1) Gather Information Stigma stems from a lack of knowledge, and the best way to fight a gap in information is by educating others in our community. There are numerous public resources on the different types of mental illnesses. Personally, I turned to resources on websites for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America. These were helpful places to start because they provided me with basic information and helped me recognize the negative preconceived notions I had about mental illness. They also directed me to places where I could learn even more. I also sought advice on what to read from the mental health professionals in my life, which I suggest everyone do as well. I read so many books and articles that, eventually, I had the language I needed to speak about my mental illness. 2) Speak Up I have noticed that, in our community, we often equate strength with being silent and stoic — and that speaking up and asking for help is weakness. I believe the opposite is true. That’s why I have chosen to be open with my family and friends about living with a mental illness — and I emphasize the fact that I have won prestigious fellowships, scholarships and awards in spite of it all. I’ve also written about seeking help after experiencing a traumatic event. Living with a mental illness doesn’t define anyone, nor does it limit anyone’s abilities. Showcasing our best selves — with mental health issues and all — reveals to some that we are just as capable as anyone else when it comes to leading a successful life. 3) Remain Open As more Black people open up about living with a mental illness, the closer we will get to dismantling the stigma in our community. There is genuine comradery found in knowing that I am not the only Black person living with a mental illness. Celebrities like Taraji P. Henson, Jenifer Lewis and Janet Jackson, among many others, have opened up about their experiences with mental illnesses ranging from depression to bipolar disorder. Henson even founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in 2018 in memory of her late father. The more we recognize that mental illness can affect anyone, from your next-door neighbor to your personal hero, the more real and less frightening mental illness becomes to our community. 4) Believe People Believing people when they say they have a mental illness is vital to eradicating stigma. When someone has a mental health crisis or expresses emotional distress, telling them to simply “pray it away” or to “fix your attitude” isn’t helpful. Failing to consider that people do, in fact, live with mental illness — and being dismissive in our advice — dissuades people from coming forward with how they are truly feeling. This sometimes causes people to not seek appropriate medical help. These suggestions are just first steps when it comes to overcoming mental health stigma in the Black community. We must do better and be better when it comes to supporting other Black people living with mental illnesses, myself included. I hope my thoughts push discussions further and foster a more productive and positive dialogue. While not everyone in the Black community has a diagnosis, it’s important to keep in mind that mental illness can affect anyone, including our community.   Brakeyshia R. Samms is a writer who lives with a mental illness and works as a policy analyst. She has previously published essays in The Huffington Post, The Dallas Morning News, The Austin American-Statesman and Invisible Illness. All opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of her affiliations.

Witnessing my cousin’s pain, frustration, and limitations really tug on my heartstrings. There have been instances when I felt powerless to relieve her suffering, which overwhelmed me with guilt. I’ve grappled with my own emotions, striving to stay strong and positive while providing unwavering support through the darkest times. [Continue Reading]

Mental Health for BIPOC Summary In addition to COVID-19, recent events have brought heightened attention to the specific stressors faced by Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, who may be experiencing heightened fear, anger and grief at this time. Consistent with the Guide’s mission to provide timely mental health resources, we highlight a range of resources that may be useful to BIPOC-identifying individuals seeking support for mental health concerns and/or coping with race-related stressors, whether current and/or historical, as well as those hoping to share available resources to their patients. Mass General Psychiatry is not affiliated with, nor does it directly endorse, any non-MGH organizations listed here. This list is intended only to share resources currently available in the broader community. Click Here to Read More

When I embarked on this journey as a caregiver for my cousin Ada, who has sickle cell disease, I soon realized that this path, brimming with love and dedication, also presented an unseen battle: caregiver burnout. Following are some of the frequent challenges I’ve faced — and triumphed over — as a caregiver to my cousin. Since I started caregiving, sleepless nights have become my constant companion. There are days when all I want to do is sleep without any disturbances, but the unpredictable pain crises that torment my cousin make peaceful sleep a rare luxury. Each creak and whimper transforms into a symphony of worry echoing in my ears. As time has passed, the lack of sleep has worn down my body and mind. However, I still have to summon the strength to comfort and support Ada, even when my own fatigue threatens to overwhelm me. Related story

In addition to COVID-19, recent events have brought heightened attention to the specific stressors faced by Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, who may be experiencing heightened fear, anger and grief at this time. Consistent with the Guide’s mission to provide timely mental health resources, we highlight a range of resources that may be useful to BIPOC-identifying individuals seeking support for mental health concerns and/or coping with race-related stressors, whether current and/or historical, as well as those hoping to share available resources to their patients. Mass General Psychiatry is not affiliated with, nor does it directly endorse, any non-MGH organizations listed here. This list is intended only to share resources currently available in the broader community. Related content

We all know that mental health and mental health issues are not talked about enough and I feel like it is because it is not encouraged in many homes, especially here in Nigeria. Over the years, my mental health has been up and down. Growing up in a family where this type of conversation is not encouraged, I find it difficult to express my feelings or open up to anyone, even when I wanted to. I recently saw a video where a girl shared her story with sickle cell and she mentioned that sickle cell drains your confidence. Related story

Whether you are planning to get pregnant or just thinking about it, it’s never too early to start preparing for a pregnancy. Preconception care focuses on taking steps before getting pregnant to increase the chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Women with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at greater risk for developing complications (health problems) during pregnancy than women without SCD. For some women with SCD, pregnancy can make their disease more severe, and treatments may need to be changed to help manage complications. This makes preconception care especially important. Learn what steps you can take now to stay healthy during a future pregnancy. Abstract source

On this episode of Cheat Codes, Legends of Sickle Cell, Dr. Ahmar Zaidi and Dr. Michael Callaghan debut a series about the “Legends of Sickle Cell”. They interview Dr. Michael DeBaun and patient legend Shamonica Wiggins (43:04). Cheat Codes is a podcast for the sickle cell community that brings listeners a series of segments and interviews packed with critical education that patients and families need to know, as well as updates and clarifications from the social media "buzz" around sickle cell. Hosted by Ahmar U. Zaidi, MD (Dr. Z) & Michael U Callaghan, MD (Dr. Mike). Related story

This episode of Cheat Codes is our first bilingual podcasting experience. In the first half of the episode, Dr. Z and Dr. C speak with Professor Clarisse Lobo and Dr. Kleber Fertrin in English about their experience with sickle cell in Brazil. In the second half, we hear from them in their native Portuguese language. Cheat Codes is intended for patients, caregivers, providers, and the greater community of people who are impacted by Sickle Cell Disease.  Each episode, Cheat Codes strives to provide listeners with critical education, the latest scientific updates, and voices from the Sickle Cell community. Related story

When we are experiencing extreme stress our ability to communicate diminishes massively. We experience lack of clarity, confusion, brain fog and ‘rabbit in the headlight’ syndrome. All of which make it very difficult to communicate effectively during times of stress. Whether we need to express our emotional state or have difficult conversations, when we experience stress we find it difficult to articulate ourselves. Also many people are concerned about appearing weak or unable to cope, which becomes another barrier to asking for help when their mental/emotional state is compromised Full text