African Americans have been struggling in America for centuries. Significantly, they have been struggling with mental health conditions. Mental illness is defined as a psychological condition that affects the brain. People mostly believe this is common in African American men. In today’s society, African American men are being looked down upon on because they struggling with these problems.
“Some things that comes to my mind would be challenges with seeking help,” Dr. Maya Gordon, professor of psychology, said. “I think in general, mental health issues get ignored… If it is seen as a weakness to ask for help, then when black men do or say something, it could confirmed that they have mental issues. Another reason could be not having mental health care professionals who are black men that could help or talk to them about their problems. When it comes to black men who are seeking to further their education, they have the challenges and stressors that go along with any person of color. When it comes to black men in college, they may have challenges if they go to a majority white campus. Often predominately white campuses don’t have the staff or personnel in counseling to help with the challenges and everyday stressors.”
Gordon wishes that mental health for African Americans and other people of color would be taken more seriously and not looked at as a minority problem as they go on in life.
“I think being a young black man anywhere is very hard to explain,” Renin Broadnax, senior communications major, said. “I would say it’s definitely gotten better hearing stories from my father’s experience and other black men experiences before me. But in a lot of ways it has gotten harder in more silent and sinister ways. I think it’s important for us to be in college, because not too long ago our people didn’t have the right to public education. Within our parents’ and grandparents’ generations. So to be able to freely be in place of education that 60 years ago I would not be able to enter due to the color of my skin is powerful to me. Many African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans and many other people of color are first generation Americans and college students, so everything they are doing is new to them and that adds immense pressure on them stress wise, which can lead to a mental illness.”
Broadnax is the leader of the Mental Health club on campus to which he urges those who are struggling with mental health to join and seek help.
“Black men with mental health problems in this society is very under represented within our own community.” Zaraya Tollerson-Ibry, senior criminology and psychology major, said. “When you think about mental health it’s really taboo to talk about, especially in the homes. So, I think it should be more aware of within ourselves first before we can make a movement. I think black men who are in college now and who feel as though they are struggling to keep up and dealing with the daily stress of class and assignment should seek out help when they need it because they can be just as smart as any average college student.”
African Americans who are seeking to further their education should seek help if they are struggling with their college life. Those who are struggle mental illness should seek help from mental health doctors and counseling.
Here at Cabrini University, there are resources for those struggling with mental health illness.
To receive help on campus, the Counseling and Psychological Services office is located in Grace Hall, Room 174.
