“You’re not okay, that is okay”
Disorder - state of confusion
Mental disorder- A wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior.
“The most beautiful thoughts are always besides the darkest. Today I seriously thought about killing you. I contemplated, premeditated murder, and I think about killing myself…” infamous words from Kanye West. The song quoted in this initial passage is “ I thought about killing you “ which advances from his eighth studio released project titled “ Ye”. Taking a closer look at the cover art you may notice a very familiar feeling of nature taking place as the dark green grass sweeps the land, assembling to the great big Teton range from Jackson hole(just about 4 miles north of Jackson, Wyoming). This album photo was taken on West’s iPhone, and this spot can be admired for it’s hosting of “Ye”. The cover reads “ I hate being Bi-polar, It’s awesome “ . Plagued by inquisitiveness, many might ponder as to the “well-being” of Ye when in fact while being away he simply stated it was “the break through not the break down”. I’ve gathered a couple of key points to further examine the mental health/well-being of modern “black” individuals as we know today, with aim to encourage current as well as future dialogue amongst peers, friends, & family.
I know we all have heard the saying “It’s okay not to be okay” but considering the source has made many question the validity in the phrase itself. Coming from someone who was medically diagnosed(as well as a self acquainted diagnosis) with severe anxiety disorder accompanied by mild depression at the age of 12, I experienced the intense and crippling feeling of panic, loss of appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, & pure terror of death at the fragile age of 5. At the time I knew something might be horribly wrong. My mother is a teacher with an AA and BA in early childhood education as well as AA in Pychology. She had been suffering from severe anxiety and depression most of her life which has hospitalized her multiple times throughout her journey, creating a natural sensitivity as well as awareness for me surrounding mental health . My mother only knew so much about her own mental health. Due to the absence of proper education as well as sensitivity when interacting with post “prisoners of war, not only did I struggle with comprehending my anxiety, I also struggled with expressing my needs as well as getting help. That took me on a voyage of self awareness & the importance of mental health very early in my life.
Lil Wayne speaks on shooting himself in attempt to end his life.
25% of fatal shootings involving police officers includes signs of mental distress(disorder). With the added stigma and pressure of being viewed as “less than” in addition to the lack of resources systematically in place still affecting us currently, it amounts to no revelation that 25% of “black” counterparts seek mental health care, compared to white Americans which are almost doubled at 40%. Experts have concluded undeviating exposure to incarceration, poverty, violence, environmental deprivation, and child displacement which leads to implications of foster care systems increases the chances of developing a mental disorder. The “Black” body as a people are at direct risk of mental underdevelopment & stimulation as well as mental illness by reason of economical, political, historical, and social influence set in place despite being extensively known to be physically and psychologically damaging.
The term “ Mental disorder” when broken down simply means: The mind; confused
Now in most scenarios confusion is widely common and often embraced(some might argue too often for comfort lol). With proper knowledge and tools to perform adjustment, many will attest to “confusion” as nothing more than harmless human nature. Most aren’t aware of the mind and body being two separate commodities, conditioning being one key factor in their correlation. Our environment plays a major part in the way we perceive the world and ourselves, furthermore how we perform daily. In other words Nature vs. Nurture. “Black” or indigenous people experience traumatic stressors directly from our environments whether it be experiencing extreme depravation, “black” males and females displayed deceased on viral videos online due to police brutality as well as extreme undiagnosed cases of PTSD in “black” and people of colors demographic regions, forced to survive in underdeveloped habitats which only causes more emotional and physical tensions.
Charlamange tha god speaks on mental health and having serve panic attacks.
Nation wide, The topic of mental health has seen a peak of growth in the last 5 years, tripling itself. as awareness spreads through media outlets the new norm is approaching. Health is wealth! recently many influencers as well as musical artist like Kanye have discussed their own mental health adversities and endeavors. Acts like Big Sean, lil Wayne, Kid Cudi , as well as Andre 3000 have openly expressed the challenges of mental wellness and how to cope with episodes as well as how to educate close family and friends who may be concerned for the individual.
Big Sean & his mother speak on how to deal with anxiety & depression.
Earl sweatshirt speaks with his mother about his roots and the importance of mental stimulation from your own solitude.
Deterioration of the mind affects all aspects of ones life including mood, thinking, behavior etc. According to Mentalhealth.gov Here are some signs of mental health problems:
Yelling or fighting with family and friends
Feeling numb or careless
Having excessive aches and pains
Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
Pulling away from people and usual activities
Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head
Having low to no energy
Sleeping excessively
4 ways to improve mental wellness:
Getting physically active
Connect with others
Write your thoughts or feelings down in a journal
Seek professional consultation if problem persist
Mental health is the driving force of our lives! Just like you driving your vehicle, without you the vehicle would precede to sit in your driveway. A moving vehicle without a driver is a receipt for disaster. Listed above and below are a couple of resources to further assist this articles explanation on mental health in the “black” community in “works” of spreading awareness to all seeking clarity.
You are not alone! Download the “Betterhelp” app for professional consultation about mental health from the comfort of your room, car, work etc. https://www.betterhelp.com
National Suicide prevention lifeline: 800-273-8255
Seeking therapy? https://therapyforblackmen.org/therapists/ https://providers.therapyforblackgirls.com