|
Post by cesilg on May 10, 2017 18:27:36 GMT -4
The topic of "mental illness" has always been a difficult topic to approach in the African-American community. This is mainly due to the fear of being ostracized, felt mainly by those suffering from mental illness. Many of those suffering never go in for treatment and fervently refute any inquiries associated to their mental health. Most would even prefer being associated with a medical illness such as diabetes or hypertension, rather than something like depression. This behavior needs to change, for there to be any hope for the proper treatment of mental conditions in this community and what this article highlights is a positive step in that direction.
|
|
|
Post by Shreyas Kanthadi on May 10, 2017 20:40:29 GMT -4
"Everyone has mental health. And seeking assistance or help is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength." These are the words that people in societies today need to advocate to those struggling with Depression. I applaud Lauren Carson fro her bravery to finally come out to her family and discuss her ongoing battle with depression and seek the help she needed. Creating organizations and support groups such as Lauren's is the step in the right direction for our children, friends, family and loved ones battling with depression to help seek the help they need. I can relate to what Lauren wen through in college. Taking on an intense course load, double majoring and also balancing sports was not easy. There were many times were I just wanted to quit everything. To my friends at school and my Fraternity I came of as the "social" guy always making new friends and being "happy" but behind that "mask" I wore was a student always worried about classes, exams and the future. After seeking help from my close friends, Advisors and parents, things became brighter. That constant worry of school and being depressed slowly faded and things began to fall in place for me and that "mask" i used to wear was no longer needed.
|
|
Mwamba Malekani MSIV-UMHS
Guest
|
Post by Mwamba Malekani MSIV-UMHS on May 11, 2017 16:03:17 GMT -4
Ms. Carson highlights may key issues regarding mental illness in the black community. Black women often are in-fact told to be strong. Traditionally many black women are the backbone of their family structure. She highlighted her own hospitalization and how her family may not understand how she was feeling. One thing she did not mention though was the idea of many in the black community equating church and church leaders to mental health. Obviously the two are not mutually exclusive, but in the black community, sometimes people respond to calls for help with the answer that an individual should just pray more and mediate. Talking to your spiritual leaders and church members can be helpfully and for some can effectively replace a therapy, but this is not a substitute for seeing a psychiatrist if the condition warrants medication, as in Ms. Carson's case.
|
|
|
Post by Melvin George on May 11, 2017 20:02:38 GMT -4
It's all too common that a person suffering from depression puts on their best face and tries to function day in and day out without any outside help. This is not something that is sustainable for very long. Eventually the mask comes off and you find yourself spiraling out of control. Depression can be an extremely debilitating illness and suicide often seems like a solution albeit a permanent one. What struck me the most was that she didn’t feel comfortable telling her family members that she struggled with depression. Any other illness and our families are the first to know. This stigma is a reason why so many are not treated. Its great that this organization is bringing awareness to an illness so common but often overlooked until its too late.
|
|
|
Post by Renuka Bhisetti on May 11, 2017 21:17:30 GMT -4
Lauren Carson, the executive director of Black Girls Smile, brings an important issue into light – how there is a lack of awareness and continued stigma against mental health. Not only this, but her nonprofit has a different take on handling mental health in the community. Instead of treating patients with medications, the nonprofit aims to “increase mental health literacy and coping skills and self-care methods.” As physicians, we are quick to throw medications at patients instead of taking the time to teach lifestyle changes and survival skills. Our society has become reliant on medications as an easy and quick way out. Instead, we need to teach our patients how to handle stressful situations without relying so much on drugs. Moreover, we need to educate our community about mental health so that people are less afraid and more willing to offer much needed support to those in need. Carson speaks about how African-American girls are taught to keep their feelings inside and how mental illness is not really accepted. Coming from an Indian background, for us too, mental health is a taboo. We do not believe it is a true medical condition, but instead that an individual is being dramatic. For this reason, many Indians suffering from mental health illnesses keep their conditions quiet and don’t seek the treatment they require. It’s our job as physicians to make this change in our community and raise awareness so that we can better treat our patients and make them feel safe.
|
|
|
Post by Sudeep Rajpoot on May 12, 2017 3:01:56 GMT -4
This article is the perfect example of altruism and sublimation. She has taken her negative feelings and used to them to help so many others that feel the same way she has felt. In a society where emotion can been misconstrued as weakness, this article highlights that reaching out for help to heal your emotions is necessary. "An idle mind is the devil's playground." Lauren states that when she was at school and went to parties, it was easy to put on the mask and deal with her feelings. It is when she was at home, idle with her thoughts with no outlet, where she tried to take her life. As many of my colleagues have already stated, it is important to accept that we are all human. It is okay to have emotions and negative feelings. It is okay to reach out for help when you need it. I hope that Lauren's non-profit continues to grow and spread awareness. I hope that she touches the lives of many people who need help.
|
|
|
Post by Michael Colfax on May 12, 2017 9:19:31 GMT -4
It takes a lot of courage to talk about the stigma that is a person's mental health. Ms. Carson turned her own personal struggles of depression and suicide attempts to help other girls out there with Black Girl's Smile so others wouldn't have to go through it alone. It takes a lot of courage to admit if you're lonely and going through depression which doesn't help improve a person's mental health and only sends him/her into a downward spiral. Lauren Carson has taken a giant step forward to help other young African American girls like her in the perfect age group with those that would be struggling with it the most. The pressure during teenage years is high and she lets them know that it's ok to seek help. If a bad day happens here and there, she lets them know that they are not alone and that they are going to be ok.
|
|
|
Post by Rashonda Carlisle on May 23, 2017 17:46:05 GMT -4
I would first like to state that I am proud and encouraged that Lauren decided to share her story. She was correct in stating that African-American women are taught early to be strong and hold in feelings to become this support system for the family. Any type of mental illness comes with a nasty stigma in the African-American community that is almost as bad as Leprosy. For her to tell her story, being 100% truthful and honest and to also start a foundation to help others with similar stories is amazing. This article demonstrates how important it has become for college campuses to begin to screen for signs of depression, anxiety and others. College life makes too easy to blend into the crowd, hide, and drown problems in alcohol and drugs that are readily available. Add in a high stress load from heavy class loads, tuition expense, and being away from family and it presents a recipe for disaster. With high expectations placed on them people adapt by hiding their struggles under facades, and never seek help until the stress becomes overwhelming and suicide seems to be the only option. I also feel it is important that students are informed on the signs of depression, and look out or each other, and become educated on what to do, or to call if they notice anything. I would hope that her program can spread even outside Atlanta into all college towns across the US.
|
|
|
Post by Nyimasatta Jawo on May 24, 2017 10:02:30 GMT -4
This Article touches one the main issue that affects diagnosis and treatment of mental health in the minority community. Especially in the African American and African communities, mental health problems are looked at as being nonexistent. People think that if you have any sort of issue or diagnosis then they consider you crazy and nothing else. As such the stigma associated with it prevents a lot of people from that community from looking for help. Less people are diagnosed and even less are likely to be on medication or therapy. This organization is a needed entity in this community to help people be aware of the issues that can plague any person and help them find ways to deal with it. It also allows people to come together in a community and see that mental health issues do affect people to varying degrees and seeking out help for it is ok. Hopefully with organizations like this people will realize that mental health is as much a problem as any medical issue and should not be stigmatized.
|
|
|
Post by Fiyinfoluwa D Aderibigbe (FDA) on May 25, 2017 21:14:10 GMT -4
Virtually no one is immune to depression, she mentions catering to girls as young as ages "13-19”. At this age nobody pays attention to these symptoms or sees them as pathological. Most people just think these young ones are acting out or seeking attention. There is an urgent need to focus on the mental health of children and young adults as much as we’ve been doing with adults. It is disturbing when a 15yr old attempts to take her own life, twice. After trying to cope with depression by repressing the thoughts. She also used partying and socializing to avoid the thoughts. But as her story clearly demonstrates that these are mere stop gap measures if they can be called that. She also mentions not having a good support system at the initial stages which is something we tend to take for granted. Then of course seeking proper medical care from professionals early. These simple but vital steps could make all the difference.
|
|
|
Post by Jocelyn Anyanwu on May 30, 2017 4:39:18 GMT -4
Lauren Carson has a done a great job in founding Black Girl Smile. Mental issues are often not addressed in the African American communities and stems from being looked on as a stigma in some parts. Young African American girls and women are often neglected in terms of mental health, and as such have fewer voices. The awareness of mental issues like clinical depression is very imperative now as there is a rise in suicides among the youth. As Lauren Carson said, her family is educated as her father is a physician and her mother had a master’s degree, the pressure on her to measure up to their expectations was enormous. The attributing struggles are hidden, and the resultant mental issues abound. Not addressing he significant family history ill-health attributed to her not getting help on time till it escalated to her being in the hospital with suicidal attempt. Being aware of the stressors helps to manage the issues more. Understanding that she has good support system when she feels overwhelmed will go a long way in having a very positive outcome.
|
|
|
Post by Roy Satmaka on May 31, 2017 21:42:04 GMT -4
I whole hardily agree that bringing out mental health issues out in the open for dialogue is the way to go. Too much of mental illness is misunderstood by the population at large and lies under stigma and belief that they are weak and lesser of a being. Thus creating barriers both artificial and real to those that indeed need the help to cope with their own inner struggles. A lot of people still try to go it alone and be that one man ship rather than share and find the much needed support to know what is an acceptable amount of sadness or what is a bad relationship and unacceptable and when they need to go seek out help on the path to good mental health. I was also struck by the turning point when she decided to share her issues with others beyond her immediate family. She became a pillar, a resource to others and realization that they indeed needed and there fight is very real and they are not alone in their struggle. Perhaps sharing her experiences with others was not only therapeutic to them but perhaps therapeutic to herself too.
|
|
|
Post by Peter Wahba on Jun 3, 2017 10:45:17 GMT -4
Lauren Carson's approach to mental health is unique because of a few reasons. One, she has been suffering with depression and that definitely makes her more approachable for others who are suffering with mental health. Someone who cares for you and has techniques that you can use to cope with your condition may seem more reliable when you know that they know what you are going through. It gives people a sense of hope knowing that there is a person in the world who knows how to handle their condition and not let that condition control their lives. Second, Ms. Carson is not approaching the issue of mental health by simply recommending medication or therapy sessions. She is teaching young girls how to be proactive and to consider their emotions as frequently as possible. She is making an important emphasis on coping mechanisms and this probably gives the young women a sense of power and control over their condition knowing that they can do something immediately about it. Finally, Ms. Carson is not saying that you have to eliminate feelings of depression or whatever mental issue that may affect someone. In fact, she says that it is alright and acceptable to feel down sometimes in certain situations. She is telling people that the method is not to get rid of these feelings, but knowing the proper way to handle these emotions.
|
|
|
Post by Nazia Rahman on Jun 4, 2017 16:38:33 GMT -4
This article strongly emphasizes how necessary social support for one`s well being. Lauren Carson has been struggling with depression since 15 and it took her two suicidal attempts to understand the meaning of life and seek help. “Mask of happiness” is such cliché in this society now; everyone pretends to be happy, strong and in control of situations that they bottle up their vulnerabilities and emotions. Lauren pointed out a great point of how the younger generation deals with stigma of mental health. Instead of seeking for help, some people might force themselves to be around people, abuse drugs that help them block their emotions for a time being. Therefore, it is much more common for depressive people to be dependent of substances to help numb their emotions, and instead of improvising their coping mechanism they repress their emotions till the symptoms worsens. We need more role models like Lauren to speak and let people know that it is ok to be weak sometimes and it is ok to ask for help and not feel vulnerable.
|
|
|
Post by Nanki A. on Jun 4, 2017 22:39:18 GMT -4
First of all, I would like to commend Lauren for starting up a project that targets the African-American women to take ownership of their mental health and its stability. Although, recognizing, speaking up and admitting one's mental health issues is slowly gaining more acceptance these days, there are differences within communities themselves on how one's mental health is perceived. In that case, Lauren's idea to increasing mental health literacy within her community that still retains stigmatizing mental health is a great idea. I agree with Lauren that often we focus on talking about depression, etc but forget to urge the importance of implementing coping skills and self care techniques such as meditations, or positive decision making, etc that one can attempt to implement slowly in their lives. A little self care with a wonderful support group can go a long way for those struggling and their loved ones to help in creating a healthier mental health.
|
|