Therapy is for Black and Brown People Too!
For months, I had been pondering the stigma of mental health services in communities of color, especially within the Black and Brown communities. I was fully aware of some of the reasons why people of color do not seek treatment and support (We’ll discuss some of them later). Where I found myself stuck, was exploring ways to encourage and help them understand why they SHOULD go to therapy. I knew that I wanted to write a blog about this issue, but I found myself struggling because I recognized that the task at hand was layered. First, I would have to convince people of color of reasons why therapy would be beneficial to them. Second, I would have to convince them to disregard the stigma associated with therapy, risk possible shame and embarrassment from family and friends, and go to therapy anyway. As I grappled with research and formulating ideas for this blog, something terrible happened. A Black man, George Floyd, was murdered by a White police officer who knelt on his neck for nearly 9 minutes while 3 other officers stood by. This public lynching was captured on video, and seen by the entire world. We were instantly traumatized.
The Trigger
We were bombarded and visually assaulted by this video on our televisions and timelines. Here was another Black body being treated as if it were not human. Here was someone’s child crying for his mother, and begging for life, at the same time knowing that he was surely going to die. For as horrific as this scene was, it is not new to us as Black people. There have been other videos. There have been other murders at the hands of those who have sworn to protect us. There has been no justice for any of those murders. As I scrolled through my social media, I saw 2 words that were consistently used by Black people to describe how they felt - “tired” and “exhausted”. I used those words myself, as they were included in the range of emotions that I experienced. What I came to realize is that “tired” and “exhausted” are synonymous with “traumatized”. Yes, we are tired and exhausted, but what we as a people fail to realize is that we feel those emotions because we are traumatized. I immediately knew what I needed to say. I saw a truth that is almost impossible to deny. People of color, especially Black people, need to seek therapy because we have been traumatized for generations!
Trauma
What is trauma? We often hear that term used, but what does it really mean? The Missouri Department of Mental Health defines trauma as follows: “...trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening and that can have lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and physical, social, and emotional well-being”. Here are 4 types of trauma:
Acute-- this results from a single incident. Ex: The teenager who witnessed and captured George Floyd’s death on her phone, and is now receiving death threats. She is traumatized.
Chronic-- this is repeated or prolonged. Ex: A Black man who has been profiled, harassed or beaten multiple times by the police. Black men have been traumatized in this way for ages.
Complex-- this involves multiple traumatic incidents that are not always related. Ex: Being abused as a child. Being abused by a domestic partner. Being the victim of a crime. Loss of a loved one to violence. This is common within Black and Brown communities. There are so many instances of trauma occurring simultaneously that it has become embedded within the culture; it has become the norm.
Intergenerational (also referred to as transgenerational or collective trauma)-- this is trauma that is passed down from one generation to the next. It is associated with historical oppression and suffering. There have been studies that have actually found that trauma can be transmitted within genes through generations; it is in the DNA. Ex: An African-American who watches the video of George Floyd’s murder, and instantly feels triggered and reminded of his ancestors being enslaved, lynched, burned, or beaten to death.
How Trauma Shows Up in Our Lives
Most of us have experienced some form of trauma in our lives, but we do not always recognize ways in which we are affected. This is especially true for marginalized or oppressed communities, where trauma has been normalized. Here are some direct effects of trauma.
Hypervigilance-- Constantly feeling “on edge”, and expecting something negative to occur.
Sleep Disturbances-- Experiencing difficulty falling asleep, waking up several times through the night, or feeling fatigued after awakening in the morning.
Fatigue-- Feeling physically tired, even when one DOES get 8 or more hours of sleep.
Hopelessness- Feeling as though situations will never change. This sounds like, “Why bother? Nothing’s going to change anyway”.
Helplessness-- Feeling disempowered, as if one has no control over events that affect his/her life. This sounds like, “Why vote? My vote doesn’t count anyway”.
Low Self-Esteem-- When a group has been made to feel unimportant or less than the dominant group, members of that group sometimes start to believe that they are less than. They start to believe negative and derogatory statements made to them by the dominant group. They can lose confidence in their ability to succeed, and resign themselves to a life of suffering and distress.
Internalized Oppression-- Trying to “pass” as a member of the dominant culture, or rejecting one’s own culture. This person separates him/herself from their culture, takes on the beliefs and mindset of the dominant culture, and sometimes attacks or tries to demean people from their own culture. (Look up Candace Owens. She is a good example of someone who displays this behavior).
Please understand that the above mentioned symptoms are not normal, although they have become normalized within Black, Brown, and marginalized communities. In other words, although you may have become accustomed to feeling these symptoms, they are not healthy. They can hinder your ability to find peace and true happiness; they can diminish your quality of life. These are indicators that therapy may be beneficial for you.
Medical Indicators that it May Be Time to Seek Therapy
African-Americans
Now that we have explored some psychological indicators for why Black, Brown, and marginalized groups can benefit from therapy, let’s now explore some medical indicators. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported that African-Americans ages 18-49 are two times more likely to die of heart disease, as compared to Whites. The CDC also reports African-Americans between ages 35-64 are also 50% more likely to have hypertension (high blood pressure) than Whites. Why are those numbers important? Studies have shown connections between heart disease, hypertension and stress. Is it a coincidence that African-Americans would have a higher prevalence of both diseases? I think not. I am by no means a medical professional, but it does not require a rocket scientist to infer that poor health within the African-American community can be directly linked to higher levels of stress (and trauma). Please refer to those numbers again. Why would an 18 year old be twice as likely to die of heart disease than his/her White counterpart? That is abnormal, unless that person lives in a community that exposes him/her to stress and trauma on a regular basis. For a Black child, especially a boy, I would imagine that child’s life would be stressful if she/he were constantly having “the talk” with their parents regarding how to conduct oneself in situations involving the police. I would imagine that child’s life would be stressful if she/he were constantly seeing or hearing news of Black people being killed. To compound the issue, that child might not have many opportunities to discuss his/her feelings, as Black people often do not seek therapy. History has taught us that the American healthcare system cannot be fully trusted. The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, in which Black men infected with syphilis were intentionally NOT given treatment for the disease (even though an effective treatment had been identified) is one example. Another example is Dr. J. Marion Sims (referred to as the father of gynecology), who performed surgeries on 3 enslaved Black women WITHOUT anesthesia. He performed 30 surgeries on one of these women before he “perfected” his work. He wrote about her screams and how he did not think that she would survive the surgeries; yet he continued his work. This man’s statue was only just removed from Central Park, New York TWO years ago, despite his own documentation of what he had done to these women. I can certainly understand why a Black person would be hesitant to seek any sort of medical or mental health treatment.
Immigrants
Another group that is sometimes wary of mental health treatment is the immigrant population. One might assume that this group does not seek treatment, because they do not necessarily need mental health support; they have other needs that may be more immediate. However, this is not true. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of refugees are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.). That same department also reports that in the Southeast Asian community, suicide was the leading cause of death for people between ages 15-24 in 2017. In many cases, immigrants are fleeing their countries due to stressful or traumatic events. In addition to P.T.S.D., there is also a high prevalence of Depression and Anxiety in this population, as relates to acculturation challenges. These numbers indicate a clear need for mental health services and support. So, why don’t they go to therapy? In some cases where these marginalized populations attempt to seek therapy, they are faced with challenges and barriers to treatment. One of these barriers is the lack of knowledge or understanding of mental health. Traditional therapy has been regarded as a westernized practice beneficial for White people only. There is also a stigma associated with seeking therapy, with the belief that therapy is for “crazy people”; going to therapy would be an admission of mental instability. People of color and marginalized populations are already considered to be “different” to some extent. Who wants to set him/herself even further apart and be labeled as “crazy” or “different”?
Benefits of Therapy for Marginalized People
Why should anyone willingly enroll in therapy, if there was the possibility of shame and embarrassment for them? I emphatically believe that there is more to gain than lose from therapy. Okay, so someone might initially be embarrassed and uncomfortable, but what could be gained? Therapy can help people heal from trauma and live a more fulfilling life. People who are oppressed and marginalized need an outlet and space to talk about how their lives have been affected. They need a space where they can talk about the struggles without feeling judged. They need a space where they are not required to “be strong” and suppress feelings of sadness, rage, and despair. They need a space where they can explore ways to challenge negative thoughts and fears that hold them hostage. They need support in exploring ways to challenge oppression and live healthier, happier lives. People of color and marginalized groups do not have to accept the status quo. They do not have to suffer in silence. There is support and help available. If there are concerns of mistrust towards the healthcare system as previously mentioned, I encourage people to seek a therapist who looks like him/her. “Therapist shopping” is highly encouraged. There ARE therapists who look like you; please do not be discouraged. I have seen a surge in people seeking therapy since George Floyd’s murder. People are triggered. People are traumatized. People are also realizing that they cannot deal with all of these emotions alone. They are seeking help. They are trying to heal. If you are experiencing these emotions, please consider reaching out to a mental health professional in your community. Below, I have included links for some websites that offer a variety of multicultural therapists. If you are unsure of how to begin a search for a therapist, please refer to my other blog post (“What Does Mental Health Have To Do With Immigration?”) where I detail steps that you can take.
Links for Multicultural Therapists:
https://www.findamulticulturaltherapist.com
https://www.inclusivetherapists.com
https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com
https://www.borislhensonfoundation.org
https://www.thelovelandfoundation.org
https://www.therapyforblackmen.org
