In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as a time to celebrate African Americans’ contributions to US history. February subsequently became known as Black History Month. And every year since then, a theme is chosen and we celebrate the month with activities and discussions centered on that theme.
Over the years, the themes for Black History Month have been varied, often highlighting African American cultural and historical impact on American society or the issues faced by the Black community in America. However, one thing that always seems missing is a focus on mental health. In the past 10 years, the themes have rarely touched on this topic except for the 2022 theme of Black Health and Wellness. We need similar themes to raise awareness about mental health in the Black community.
It’s important to remember that mental health is a crucial component of overall health. It’s just as important as our physical and social well-being; even the World Health Organization acknowledges this in its definition of health. Yet, it often gets overlooked especially in discussions about the Black community which continuously faces storms of adversity, oppression, and injustice.
Mental health in the Black community is a much-needed conversation. Trailblazers, such as Bebe Moore Campbell, an American journalist and mental health advocate, and Beverly Greene, an award-winning psychologist, have helped shed light through writing and advocacy on how just being African American can affect someone’s mental health and to ensure that Black people get the help needed.
The prevalence of injustice and discrimination that individuals in the Black community experience can take a significant mental toll. Because a person happens to survive institutionalized trauma physically unharmed, it does not mean they don’t bear mental and emotional scars from these traumatic experiences. We must keep this in mind when talking about Black Americans – who often have limited support for mental health and psychological problems compared to their White counterparts.
Though this year’s theme of Black Resistance celebrates the Black community’s strength through the decades, we need to acknowledge the toll that this resistance can take on mental health. Mental health issues are real and common and they affect men and women of every social class. Millions of African Americans are burdened by mental health challenges and sadly, the uptake of mental health services in the community is poor.
Even well-known individuals in the Black community have been outspoken about their struggles. For example, Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, and former US First Lady Michelle Obama have openly lent credence to the reality of mental health problems and shared their battles with depression. We need to continue this discussion and help people find solutions and support.
As a society, we can celebrate the culture, history, contributions, and resilience of the Black community while also acknowledging the importance of mental health in the community.
Yetunde is smart, kind, and has a lovable personality. A constant learner with an impressive work ethic and terrific creative skills. She is devoted to personal and spiritual growth and she cherishes the company of people, books, and nature.
