Mental health is wealth

Written By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D. In recent news, there was a father who shot his son in self-defense and killed him. Sadly, his son was battling drug addition and a mental illness. It was noted that the father had previously tried to get his son help. As a parent, it is our responsibility to protect our children and do the best that we can in raising them. As a parent myself, I can’t imagine the pressure and fear this father was going through in that moment, and the mental toll he will have to live with for the rest of his life. I can’t help but wonder if his son had gotten the help he needed, would the result have ended differently. Unfortunately, this is only one of many mental illness cases that have occurred over the years. In the last few years, the world has been going though unprecedented times. We have all had to deal with COVID-19, the loss of loved ones, unemployment, financial struggles, and so much more. With everything going on in the world, it is important that we are taking care of ourselves and focusing on our mental health, especially in the black community. When was the last time you took care of your mental health? In the Black community, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) mentioned that only one in three Black adults receive the mental care they need. There are many reasons as to why Blacks are hesitant to taking care of their mental health. First, there is a negative perception towards those who may have a mental illness. NAMI discussed how 63% of Black people think that having a mental illness is a sign of weakness. This negative perception makes it hard for those who are yearning for help to reach out in fear of the judgment that may come with it. Second, religion is a big part of the Black community, and some Black people tend to lean on their faith to help them through their issues rather than a medical diagnosis. In addition, there is the socioeconomic disparity in […]

Mental health is wealth Read More »