HONOURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: A SPOTLIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES

This October, we’re celebrating Black History Month (BHM).

Black History Month focuses on acknowledging and appreciating the contributions of Black people throughout history. And this year’s theme of “Reclaiming Narratives” is culturally significant in many ways, because it’s fostering concrete actions around correcting the cultural narratives and stereotypes that society has historically crafted on behalf of Black people.

From the erasure of our success stories and significant historical innovations, to continued marginalisation and overlooking our contributions, historical inaccuracies and stereotypes continue to cause generational trauma and have been harmful to the collective mental health of various Black communities. 

By not fully understanding the mental toll that erasure takes on Black communities, providing proper culturally competent mental health care which specifically targets our nuanced experiences remains a challenge.

This sentiment is echoed by celebrated Black British actor David Harewood who talked about his own mental health breakdown thirty years ago that landed him in Holly Moor psychiatric hospital in Birmingham. 

In his article, he shares that Black people are four times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than white people and are far more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis. He noted that Black Caribbean people have the highest rates of detention in psychiatric hospitals. “Clearly, there is something about living in Britain that is tough for Black people,” he goes on to say. Oftentimes, Black individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis are often met with police brutality and violence, instead of the culturally competent care they need. 

Harewood explains that feeling isolated since leaving drama school contributed to his mental health decline in his early twenties. Not being seen, listened to, and fully acknowledged takes a toll on Black communities. “Delving into the causes of my breakdown has involved reconnecting with my struggle to forge a sense of identity and belonging as a Black British man,” Harewood shares.

Given Harewood’s statement above, this Black History Month’s theme of “Reclaiming Narratives” is especially poignant, when it comes to fostering belonging. This theme aims to challenge the narratives of overlooked achievements, embrace Black stories by spotlighting the impact of Black contributions to society, and empower us through educating others about these stories, while understanding just how diverse and nuanced it is to be Black from a myriad of ethnic roots, cultures, values, and languages.  

And this is why at Tala Thrive, we support you by matching and connecting you with culturally competent therapists and coaches who understand your culture, language and/or religion. Be sure to sign up at Tala Thrive to join our community.

Remember, we want you to thrive - mentally, physically, and emotionally - so you can start living the life you truly deserve.

By Lola Akinmade