by Rougayyah J.
Mental health can be defined as an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being1. It’s a state of mind, a feeling, and the multitudes of emotions we experience on a daily basis in long-term situations. Mental health is the core of our being and a truly important factor of our overall health. Even though black history month has come to an end for 2023, we must continue to highlight black identity, experiences, and how different societal factors can contribute to a black individual’s mental health.
In a study conducted by the Public Health Agency of Canada, before the pandemic in 2019, the average life satisfaction was lower among racialized adults (visible minorities) than among non-racialized adults and this difference increased during the pandemic2.
As I write this blog, I sit and reflect about my experiences as a black individual, what this means for me, and how it has played a role in my mental health through my experience. When asking black youth about what it means to them to be black (including myself), we often hear responses such as strength, courage, resilience, soul, and the list goes on. From dealing with acts of microaggression, racism, discrimination, and inequity throughout many generations, the black community has had to remain steadfast to fight against a system that was rooted against them in many ways…
We have come a long way, however, there is still so much more to be done for the future of the black community. As many of us were always taught to continue displaying values of strength and resilience – being ‘weak’ was not part of the vocabulary. Seeking help for mental health issues is seen as a sign of weakness within the black community which prevents many, young and old from getting the adequate help they need to heal.
Seeking mental help can also be a challenging experience for many black individuals due to a number of factors that includes:
- Inadequate resources provided in many predominantly black communities
- Taboo/stigma surrounding the idea of mental health
- Anti-Black racism that plays a role in inequities in power, resources, and opportunities that discriminate against black individuals. It can be observed in an individual, institutional, and societal level3
- Negative experiences with the health institutions- leading to a mistrust in the healthcare system
- Lack of representation and ability to find professionals who share similar experiences/background -as it would create a sense of trust.
Why do these factors exist?
Racism and Anti-Blackness have been contributors to the inequalities, inequities and discrepancies that we see in health care for black individuals. When a system has historically normalized the discrimination against black people through policies and practices, it becomes difficult to gain the collective trust of the community – as negative experiences carry through generations. Many Black advocacy groups are working tirelessly to change the narrative, address the system that has been against them and allocate resources to create systematic change. That includes funding schools and afterschool programs, education for social workers and health promotion activities (fitness, immunization, nutrition). There is, however, a long road ahead. The impact that discrimination and racism within the healthcare systems and beyond have made a lasting impact on black people, young and old. There needs to be more open dialogue and integral change within these systems to address the needs of the black community and gain their trust.
Representation matters. Adequate support matters. Advocating for more mental health resources geared towards the black community matters. Black people are often underrepresented in discussions regarding mental health and in order to facilitate an environment that can enrich and uplift black voices, we need to continue creating a space that welcomes black individuals in all walks of life. Doing so is a step in the right direction – to heal, to grow and to prosper.
Works Cited
Canada, P. H. A. of. (2022, October 31). Inequalities in the mental health of adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary. Public Health Agency of Canada. Retrieved March 4, 2023, from https://health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/mental-health-inequalities/summary.html
Canada, P. H. A. of. (2020, September 8). Social determinants and inequities in health for Black Canadians: A Snapshot. Public Health Agency of Canada. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health/social-determinants-inequities-black-canadians-snapshot.html
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mental health. World Health Organization. Retrieved March 4, 2023, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response
1 From World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mental health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response
2 Canada, P. H. A. of. (2022, October 31). Inequalities in the mental health of adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Summary. Public Health Agency of Canada. Retrieved March 4, 2023, from https://health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/mental-health-inequalities/summary.html
3 Canada, P. H. A. of. (2020, September 8). Social determinants and inequities in health for Black Canadians: A Snapshot. Public Health Agency of Canada. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health/social-determinants-inequities-black-canadians-snapshot.html
