Pride And Mental Health, Don't Let The Stigma Kill You
In similar fashion stigmas about mental health have kept many African Americans from seeking the help that they need, often with deadly results as mental illness is viewed as a “white problem.” It is the downside of a legacy that has made us so self-reliant that the notion of needing medical treatment is a sign of weakness. Especially for an ailment that isn’t physical. For women of color, these views of strength and frailty are compounded by their womanhood.
Mental health care has made incredible leaps over the course of the last century. From diagnosis to treatment, the science of mental health has become both more humane and effective than it has ever been. With these advances, the stigma of mental illness that stemmed from the days of institutionalization has largely become a thing of the past.
It's no secret that when it comes to health care in general, people of color notoriously receive a different level of care. There have been a variety of studies that show that the level and quality of care received by African Americans is often reduced because of stereotypes that present them as less human than whites. Even when African Americans and Latinos do find appropriate care, studies find that they take advantage for shorter time spans than their white counterparts. African Americans are also more likely to receive care in a psychiatric ER than in an inpatient facility.
In similar fashion stigmas about mental health have kept many African Americans from seeking the help that they need, often with deadly results as mental illness is viewed as a "white problem." It is the downside of a legacy that has made us so self-reliant that the notion of needing medical treatment is a sign of weakness. Especially for an ailment that isn't physical. For women of color, these views of strength and frailty are compounded by their womanhood.
Many of my clients have never sought mental health services in the past. Many knew that they needed services at least a year prior to meeting me. The main barrier is the stigma in the culture, it's never discussed openly. The challenges while seeking care, was the difficulty finding bilingual and/or culturally competent providers. :eslie Garcia
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nearly two-thirds of Americans with a diagnosable mental illness don't seek treatment. For many, their aversion to therapy lies in the stigma that comes with being labeled as "crazy." The stigma potentially leading to suicide and severe mental health conditions that may be disability.
"Obstacles... adversity has made me strong. Having things happen in my life that make me want to give up or doubt my abilities, and then getting through it is encouraging,"
These are the words of Karyn Washington, founder of For Brown Girls, a project created to celebrate darker skin complexions and combat colorism. Karyn was known for her inspirational quotes and comments exhorting young women of color to be proud of themselves. In 2014, at the age of 22, Karyn died by suicide. It is believed that Karyn suffered from depression and found the recent loss of her mother too much. Which begs the question, when does strength in facing obstacles simply become a matter of ignoring pain and denying assistance?
One of the greatest myths about mental illness is that they are a byproduct of character flaws and weakness. Many believe that mental illness is something that can be self diagnosed and and and self managed. "Why can't you just snap out of it?" The truth is while the cause of mental illness isn't fully known indications point to a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors, not character flaws.
There are a number of reasons why minorities have trouble seeking and finding mental health support including the cultural stigma of admitting that you need mental support, a lack of culturally competent care, and bias against minorities seeking care. There is also the problem self-misdiagnosis which can often result in the assumption of a mental health issue instead of what may be an easily treatable physical ailment.
Ultimately the responsibility to change how we as a culture view and address mental health lies in us all. Those who are actively addressing their mental health issues can be a great encouragement to those who may be afraid to open up to friends and family about their issues. Putting a personal face on mental health can greatly shift some of the preconceived notions of what mental health issues look like.
"Every pair of eyes facing you has probably experienced something you could not endure." ― Lucille Clifton
If you -- or someone you know -- need help, please call 1-800-273-8255 for theNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you are outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of international resources.
This article was originally published in The Huffington Post and was cowritten with Shane Paul Neil
Lessons About Stress
Last month, I was asked to be part of a panel that took place on June 4th, at the Prioritize U event hosted by self-care specialist Aisha Moore (www.selfcarebyaisha.com), and held at the IIDEA Group LLC in Manhattan. The panel was targeted toward women of color—particularly women of color who are juggling multiple obligations in their lives—and it had an admirable and important objective: to teach women how to handle stress “like a pro." Aisha Moore provided a comprehensive....
Last month, I was asked to be part of a panel that took place on June 4th, at the Prioritize U event hosted by self-care specialist Aisha Moore (www.selfcarebyaisha.com), and held at the IIDEA Group LLC in Manhattan. The panel was targeted toward women of color—particularly women of color who are juggling multiple obligations in their lives—and it had an admirable and important objective: to teach women how to handle stress “like a pro." Aisha Moore provided a comprehensive presentation regarding self-care, and explained its many components. The second panelist was yoga instructor Deanna Green (www.missdeeyoga.com), who informed the audience about the positive effects of yoga, and how it can be incorporated into a busy day. My own goal as a panelist was to educate the audience about mental health, and about how many people who suffer from depression and anxiety wait close to ten years before seeking or accepting treatment. In addition, I wanted to convince the audience how important it is to eliminate the stigma connected to getting mental health treatment, particularly in the Black and Latino community.
This event provided an integrative approach to mental health, and the knowledge shared was useful for sustaining physical health as well. The participants were engaged, asked great questions, and shared moving experiences, many of which confirmed my observation that we have a long way to go to break the stigma associated with seeking help. The event’s combination of self-care specialist, yoga instructor, and mental health provider was the perfect way to grab the audience’s attention, because these different sectors complement each other well, especially for our ultimate goal: to improve the quality of life for our population through emotional wellness education.
It was rewarding to see women of color acknowledge both the importance of self-care, and the fact that mental health is one of its critical components. There is always more work to be done on eliminating the stigma attached to mental health care, but the positive response from the audience encouraged me to continue doing the work that I do. I was also pleased at the positive feedback that we got from the group, particularly about all that they learned from us at the panel.
I encourage you to create a self-care plan today.
“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”
Welcome To My Blog!
I am Leslie Garcia, the Founder of Counseling Space, a life counseling, and coaching practice, which aims to improve quality of life for individuals, families, and communities through personal advocacy, counseling, life coaching, and education. I am thrilled to finally have opened a space where people can come to learn about their true selves. When founding Counseling Space, my vision was to establish a place where people were encouraged to delve deeper into their core competencies and understand strengths they may not know they had.
Hello everyone, and welcome!
I am Leslie Garcia, the Founder of Counseling Space, a life enhancement/enrichment, counseling, and coaching practice, which aims to improve quality of life for individuals, families, and communities through personal advocacy, counseling, life coaching, and education. I am thrilled to finally have opened a space where people can come to learn about their true selves. When founding Counseling Space, my vision was to establish a place where people were encouraged to delve deeper into their core competencies and understand strengths they may not know they had.
As a new business owner, establishing Counseling Space encouraged me to utilize the resources that already surrounded me. I took classes, conducted my own research, and sought help from a business coach. The journey was overwhelming, stimulating, exciting, and scary. But after countless planning sessions and support from a dedicated group of supporters, Counseling Space was born.
Counseling Space combines different strategies to enhance and enrich the lives of clients. We teach you to reflect on experiences in ways that allow you to identify your unique strengths and become aware of your true talents. We then help you discover—and ultimately implement—practical strategies that empower you to reach your greatest potential.
My goal with these blogs is to engage and educate, by providing techniques and tips to help you thrive in your life. Upcoming topics will include mental health, personal development, goal strategies, and information on eliminating feelings like stagnation.
Today’s topic is gratitude. Focusing on gratitude is a wonderful technique for lifting spirits when you are struggling.
How can you use gratitude to get through a difficult time or a tough day? You can think of it as a force that acts in opposition to our (understandable) tendency to focus solely on what is bringing us down in any given moment. When my clients come to me, they are often in distress and have a long list of struggles and difficulties. So, in addition to working on solutions, I also find it effective to ask them to spend a few moments telling me about what they are grateful for. When I ask this, I am often met with a surprised silence at first! But, believe it or not, research shows that focusing on gratitude is directly linked to better social support and to reducing stress and depression.
To get through tough times this week, try writing down three things you feel grateful for. These can be either minor or major things, but it is important to note them. My request to you is to make this a regular practice—by writing down three things every day for a year. You will be amazed at how much you come up with!
By accessing your level of gratitude, you can start to recognize your strengths. This is just one of a few ways I partner with my clients and guide them toward improving their emotional health and their personal and professional lives. I specialize in offering varied techniques that I’m passionate, including counseling, coaching, and education. I realize that not everyone who is in need of guidance necessarily has an active mental health condition, so I welcome the many people who merely seek life development; e.g., those who want to learn goal-oriented behavior in order to accomplish goals in their personal and professional lives.
To wrap up, I’d like to share a powerful feeling of gratitude that I am experiencing now, which is gratitude for my new business and for the best people in my life who helped me create it! Throughout this journey, my family and friends have encouraged me each day to achieve this tremendous milestone. They have provided me with love, support, time, advice, guidance, knowledge, and positive energy. Thank you!