The month of May 2014 has many health and wellness
observances. Among them are Asthma and Allergy Month, Better Sleep Month,
National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Correct Posture Month and
National Osteoporosis Month just to name a few.
The focus for our May 2014 Amplify Your Expertise is on
National Mental Health Month sponsored by
the National Mental Health Association. According to the Centers for
Disease Control mental health is defined as “a state of well-being in which the
individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses
of life can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution
to his or her community.” (CDC.gov) Many people confuse mental health with
mental illness. Mental illness is defined as “collectively all diagnosable
mental disorders or health conditions that are characterized by alterations in
thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with
distress and or impaired functioning.” (CDC.gov)
The purpose of national mental health month is to bring awareness
to mental illness and related health issues. In the past mental health as a
whole was not discussed in much of the United States. Awareness of mental
health and mental illness increased over the years but gaps remain in certain
ethnic groups. One group in particular is African Americans. As an African American
Woman I have seen the stigma associated with mental health and mental illness.
African Americans usually seek medical attention after they have tried to care
for themselves with home remedies. When it comes to mental health and or mental
illness in the African American community it was not acknowledged or discussed.
I recall when my mother when to see psychiatrist and came home and informed my grandmother
that we has a dysfunctional family. My grandmother immediately told my mother
that the so called doctor she was seeing knew nothing about her and the family
and she did not want to hear anything else about the subject. Such a
discouraging response could have sent my mother off the deep end but thankfully
she continued to see her psychiatrist and was able to get the treatment she
needed for her depression. Believe it or not many African American households
have the same attitudes about expressing feelings about mental health and or
mental illness. One of the reasons behind this view is the lack of trust in
medical professionals. If you go to the doctor and express anything that is
something other than positive than it can somehow be used against you and will result
in something happening to you or your family. Many African Americans still have
this belief. As time progresses and technology advances more African Americans
are acknowledging mental health and mental illness more importantly seeking out
much needed help. For more information on National Mental Health Month check
out the National Mental Health Association website www.nmha.org
