3. With a healthy mind
and a healthy
body, we can have a
healthy spirit
4. Our Goal today is
to facilitate a dialogue on
the topic of Mental
Health with a special
focus on the African-
American community
5. Do you hear what I hear…
Do you see what I see…
6.
7. Four of the 10 leading causes
of disability in the US and
other developed countries
are mental disorders.
(NAMI, 2009)
8. Some 8 million to 14
million Americans
suffer from
depression each year.
(University of Maryland Medical Center, 2009)
9. As many as one in five
Americans will suffer at
least one episode of
major depression
during their lifetimes.
(University of Maryland Medical Center, 2009)
10. Economic cost of untreated mental
illness is more than 100 billion
dollars each year in the United
States.
(NAMI, 2009)
11. Indirect costs such as lost
employment, reduced
productivity, criminal
activity, vehicular accidents and
social welfare programs increase
the total cost of mental and
substance abuse disorders to more
than $273 billion a year.
12. Suicide is the third leading
cause of death for people
between the ages of 15
and 24.
(University of Maryland Medical Center, 2009)
16. Suicide is real and certain types of
discrimination can drive those people
home, and it can cause them to hang
themselves or down a whole bottle of
pills or other means of suicide.
African American Youth
(UC Davis, 2009)
19. They are also Less
likely to seek
treatment
(Surgeon General Report, 1999)
20. When African Americans seek
treatment, they are more likely to
be hospitalized in psychiatric units
and involuntarily committed than
European American.
(Lawson, Et al, 1994)
26. Minority
students, especially
African American
males are over
represented in
Emotionally
Behaviorally
Disordered
classification for
special education
programming.
(Artilles, 2000 &Losen, et. al, 2002).
27. but are under-
represented in the
classification of
Gifted
Programming.
( Artilles, 2000 &Losen, et. al, 2002)
29. "The future health of the nation will be
determined to a large extent by how
effectively we work with communities
to reduce and eliminate health
disparities between non-minority and
minority populations experiencing
disproportionate burdens of
disease, disability, and premature
death."
~ Guiding Principle for Improving Minority Health-CDC-OMHD
35. • Poverty
• Lack of service and supports
• Pervasive stigma
• Prejudice
• Criminalization of Mental Illness
• Lack of cultural competence in
service delivery
(NAMI, 2002)
37. Lack of Services and Support
“In this society, many
of us feel alone. Who
can we turn to?”
(Bryant, T. et al , 2003)
38. Lack of Services and Support
“After they told me, in their
way, that I had a mental
disorder (after one session) and
after only one conversation, I
never went back. They didn’t
care and neither did I.”
(Bryant, T. et al , 2003)
39. Lack of Services and Support
“We need a watchdog
organization to help
determine which services for
treating Black men are the
best and most effective.”
(Bryant, T. et al , 2003)
40. Lack of Services and Support
“There needs to be a
serious media education
and awareness
campaign about mental
health …”
(Bryant, T. et al , 2003)
42. “For centuries mental illness
has been seen as
shameful, dangerous, unpleasa
nt, embarrassing, a weakness
of character, incurable and
something to be hidden
away, without hope of
recovery.”
(Townsend, W., May, 2005)
44. “ Stigma, born out of history
and limited information
inhibits help seeking in
African American
communities.”
(Davis, K., Townsend, W., Bell Noel, M., May, 2005)
45. Internalized belief system of
“Never show weakness”
born out of shared history
of slavery, Jim Crow Laws
and Institutionalized Racism
contribute to the low rate of
help seeking behavior
46. “Well I think that also goes with an
African American dream to be
considered a strong family. Mental
illness is considered a weakness
and we wouldn’t even recognize it
in the first place, because strong
families just don’t do that.
Focus Group Participant
(Thompson, Bazile & Akbar, 2004)
48. Impact of History
“We have a problem asking
for help-especially from
folks who we think are the
reasons for our mental
illness.”
(Bryant, T. et al , 2003)
49. Impact of History
“Many of us have developed a ‘What
difference does it make’ attitude.
Racism has forced a lot of Black men
to sit on top of their pain. They feel
there are very few outlets to share
their feelings of frustration with the
system.”
(Bryant, T. et al , 2003)
51. Cultural Competency in
Service Delivery
“African Americans don’t get the same
treatment in hospitals. ... Doctors don’t
know the culture of people of color, are
uncomfortable with them, and want to
get them out of the room as fast as
possible.”
Community Leader
(UC Davis, 2009)
52. Cultural Competency in
Service Delivery
“If they don’t try to understand you
and to step into your shoes, they can
never get the diagnosis right. I
really felt rejected and unworthy of
help and support.”
(Bryant, T. et al , 2003)
53. “I would say there are more White
psychotherapists out there than
Blacks. You know if you made an
appointment to see a
therapist, more likely than not you
are going to be sitting down talking
to someone who can’t relate to
you.”
Focus Group Participant
(Thompson, Bazile & Akbar, 2004)
84. The “Healthy People
2010” Goal
• Increase quality and years
of healthy life
• Eliminate health disparities
among U.S. populations.
(The Department of Heath and Human
Services, 2000)
85. National Minority Mental
Health Awareness Month.
The US House of
Representatives
proclaimed July as
Bebe Moore Campbell
National Minority
Mental Health
Awareness Month.
(NAMI, 2009)
94. “There needs to be a serious
media education and
awareness campaign about
mental health ...”
)
(Bryant, T. et al , 2003
95. “We need to get to [reach]
more young Black boys
before they become
men, and help them work
through a lot of ‘stuff’
and feelings of isolation.”
(Bryant, T. et al , 2003)
96. “There is a need for research
on how African American
populations receive and
respond to information
about mental illness.”
(Davis, K., Townsend, W., Bell
Noel, M., May, 2005)
97. Local Organizations and
Agencies must actively
utilize and incorporate
the National Cultural
Competence Standards
to establish positive
outcomes
97
98. Local Organizations and
Agencies must have a
culturally diverse advisory
committees that include
African American
community
members, families and
consumers.
98
99. We must include the natural
support systems within the
African American
communities to assist with
service delivery. We must also
address prejudices, perceived
or real , in the therapeutic
setting.
99
100. We must understand and be
aware of the impact of
history, identity, meaning of
racial differences and
experiences of
discrimination/isolation on
mental health.
( La Roche and Maxie, 2003)
101. Training on diagnostic
accuracy and culturally
sensitive psycho-
educational assessments
especially for African
American clients and
students
102. More sensitive mental
“
health counselors and
folks who are sincere
and who are not quick
to judge Black men.”
(Bryant, T. et al 2003).
103. Increase the number of
African Americans and
other minorities in the
field of mental health.
103
104. African American consumers
and family members must
talk about their mental
health/ their recovery
process and actively
participate in community
mental health initiatives.
(Townsend,
104
105. "As a pastor, I believe that spirituality is a key
ingredient to positive mental health, but
that means the church should be working in
tandem with mental health professionals
and not offering simplistic remedies. More
and more pastors must join forces with
mental health professionals. This is
particularly important for communities of
color, who tend to have different attitudes
about mental health from that of the
dominant culture.”
(Williams, B. July 2006).
106. To minimize any inappropriate
use of emergency room
services for mental health
needs, community agencies
might consider providing, walk-
in and urgent-care mental
health services
(Thompson, Bazile & Akbar, 2004)
126. Web Resources
• Black Mental Health Alliance for Education and
Consultation, Inc: http://www.blackmentalhealth.com/
• Black Psychiatrists of America (BPA):
http://www.blackpsych.org/id6.html
• National Association of People of Color Against Suicide
(NOPCAS): http://www.nopcas.org/articles/
• Association of Black Psychologist: http://www.abpsi.org/
• The National Association of Black Social Workers, Inc.
(NABSW): http://www.nabsw.org/mserver/
127. References
• Alliance for Health Reform (November 2006). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health
Care. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Artilles, A. J., & Trent, S.C. (2000). Representations of culturally/linguistically diverse
students. In C. R. Reynolds, & E. Fletcher-Janzen (Eds), Encyclopedia of
Special Education, (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 513-517). New York: John Wiley & Sons
• Bryant, T., Ro, M., Rowe, R. (July 2003). Souls of Black Men: African American Men
Discuss Mental Health . Black Mental Health alliance. Retrieved on July, 15, 2009 from
http://www.consumerstar.org/pubs/Souls.pdf
• Building Partnerships: Conversations with African Americans about mental health
needs and community strengths. (March, 2009 ). UC Davis; Center for Reducing Health
Disparities
• Davis, K., Townsend, W., Bell Noel, M. (May, 2005). Decreasing Discrimination and
Stigma Associated with Mental Illness in the African American Community. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS).
• Facts about Mental Health. (2009). University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved on
June, 2009, from http://www.umm.edu/mentalhealth/facts.htm
128. References
• Head, J., (2005). Black Men and Depression: Saving our Lives, Healing our
Families and Friends. Harlem Moon.
• Jackson, J. S., Neighbors, H., & Gurin, G. (1986). Findings from a national
survey of Black mental health: Implications for practice and training. In M.
R. Miranda & H. L. Kitano (Eds.), Mental health research and practice in
minority communities: Development of culturally sensitive training
programs (pp. 91–116). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office
• La Roche, M. J., & Maxie, A. (2003). Ten considerations in addressing
cultural differences in psychotherapy. Professional Psychology: Research
and Practice, 34, 180–186.
• Losen, D., Orfield, G. (2002). Racial inequity in special education. The Civil
Rights Project at Harvard University and the Harvard Education Press.
129. References
• Lawson, W.B., Hepler, N. Holladay, J. & Cuffel B. (1994). Race as a factor in inpatient and
outpatient admissions and diagnosis. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 45, 72-74.
• NAMI (2009). National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Retrieved on
July, 2009 from
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Multicultural_Support1&Template=/Cont
entManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=63615
• NAMI Mental Illness Among Minority Groups: NAMI Advocates for Minorities with
Mental Illness | Suite101.com“. Retrieved on May, 2009 from http://political-
activism.suite101.com/article.cfm/mental_illness_among_minority_groups#ixzz0Gzbm
h8WU&A
• Neighbors, H.W. Trierweiler, S.J., Ford, B.C., & Mufoff, J.R. (2003). Racial differences in
DSM diagnosis using a semi-structured instrument: The importance of clinical judgment
in the diagnosis of African American. Journal of health and Social behavior, 43, 237-256.
• Office of Minority Health and Heath Disparities , the Department of Heath and Human
Services, (2000). Eliminating Racial & Ethnic Health Disparities. Retrieved on
June, 2009, from http://www.cdc.gov/omhd/About/disparities.htm
130. References
• Poussaint, A. , (2000. Lay My Burden Down: Unraveling Suicide and the
Mental Health Crisis Among African-Americans. Beacon Press
• Sanchez , J., ( July 2001). The First Session With African-Americans: A Step-
By-Step Guide. The American Psychological Association Manual, 5th Edition
• Surgeon General Report, (1999) Retrieved on June, 2009, from
• http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cre/fact1.asp
• Thompson, Bazile & Akbar (2004). African Americans’ Perceptions of
Psychotherapy and Psychotherapists. Professional Psychology: Research
and Practice, Vol. 35, No. 1, 19–26
• The Department of Heath and Human Services, (2000). Eliminating Racial
& Ethnic Health Disparities. Retrieved on June, 2009, from
http://www.cdc.gov/omhd/About/disparities.htm
• Williams, B. (July 2006). More than Demons at work in Mental Illness.
Retrieved http://www.huffingtonpost.com/byron-williams/more-than-
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