Neonya Garner
In the past few decades, taking care of one’s own mental health has become a great concern to millions around the world. Entire industries dedicated to taking care of people with mental illnesses have been redefined and reconstructed to fit the crisis. While the rate of accessibility to mental health help has increased over time, certain minority groups are still disproportionately affected. The National Library of Medicine found that rates of mental illness are higher among minority groups, specifically Black Americans. Psychological Historians have found that the reason being is factors such slavery, fighting for civil rights, and instituinalized racism as a whole forms generaltional trauma that is passed through families and leaves them reeling from it years later. Along with this, Black American women are less likely than Black American men to seek treatment. Posing the question: how has the history of racial based trauma caused a lack of mental health treatment among Black American women?
This study will show that not only have Black women been under and misdiagnosed due to historical and societal perceptions, but the history of malpractice has created cultural stigma that further discourages them from seeking treatment. This study will be conducted with the use of multiple varying sources. Namely, autobiographies and testimonies from various American Black women speaking on their experience with mental health and the struggle of seeking help. Secondly, sources studying mental health specifically in Black American communites in order to understand how cultural aspects affect the perception further. Further, to get the psychoanalytic side of things, multiple psychological studies concerning mental health within Black women will be used. Lastly, studys about psychiatric history, African-American history, and Black history involving mental health, will be cross-referenced for historical analysis and development over time.
Brown, Charrita Cole. Defying the Verdict: My bipolar life. Chicago, Curbside Splendor, 2018.
In her work, Defying the Verdict: My Bipolar Life, Brown delves into her personal experiences of dealing with Bipolar Disorder. As she illustrates the struggles brought about by mental illness, she explores the journey of dealing with social and cultural stigma, as well as an account of mistreatment from mental health officials. Overall, Brown provides a first-hand account of the mistreatment Black women face within medical environments and society as a whole in reference to their mental well-being.
Burton, Nsenga K. Black Women’s Mental Health: Balancing Strength and Vulnerability. Albany: State
University of New York Press, 2017.
Burton’s work brings together a diverse group of contributors from fields such as psychology, sociology, law, medicine, and the humanities to engage in a thoughtful discourse on a wide range of critical issues affecting Black women’s mental health. Topics covered in this book include stress, sexual assault, healing, self-care, contemplative practices, health policy considerations, and parenting. By merging both theoretical and practical perspectives with personal narratives and public policy analysis, the book establishes a framework for addressing the wellness of Black women
Danquah, Meri Nana-Ama. Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman’s Journey Through Depression, a memoir. New York: Norton, 1998.
In Willow Weep for Me, Meri Nana-Ama Danquah shares her struggles with clinical depression, providing readers with insight into the challenges she faced, including stigma, cultural expectations, and the difficulties of seeking help. She also reflects on her experiences as a Black woman dealing with mental illness, discussing how race and gender intersect with her mental health journey. The memoir is known for its candid and emotional storytelling, as well as its contribution to the broader conversation about mental health, particularly within the African American community.
Ikpi, Bassey. I’m Telling the Truth, But I’m Lying. New York: HarperCollins Publisher, 2019.
I’m Telling the Truth, But I’m Lying is a memoir written by Bassey Ikpi, a Nigerian-American writer, poet, and mental health advocate. The book was published in 2019 and is a deeply personal exploration of her experiences with mental illness, specifically bipolar II disorder, and her journey towards understanding and managing her condition. Ikpi uses a blend of essays and poetry to share her life story, including her upbringing, her struggles with mental health, her career as a writer and performer, and her interactions with the healthcare system. She addresses themes of identity, race, and the intersection of mental health and cultural expectations.
Golden, Marita. The Strong Black Woman: How a Myth Endangers the Physical and Mental Health of Black Women. Miami: Mango Publishing, 2021.
In The Strong Black Woman, Marita Golden examines the stereotype of the strong, self-sacrificing, and emotionally invulnerable Black woman. She argues that this stereotype, while rooted in historical and cultural contexts, can have detrimental effects on the mental health of Black women. The book delves into the various ways in which Black women may internalize this stereotype and feel pressure tombe strong at all times, even at the expense of their own mental and emotional health. Golden draws from personal stories, interviews, and research to discuss the challenges that Black women face in seeking mental health care and addressing their emotional needs within a society that often expects them to be endlessly resilient.
Jackson, Vanessa. In Our Own Voice: African American Stories of Oppression, Survival and Recovery in the Mental Health System. Oral History. 2002.
In Our Own Voice: African American Stories of Oppression, Survival, and Recovery in the Mental Health System is a collection of narratives that showcases the personal experiences of Black Americans within the mental health system. These stories bring to light the historical and contemporary challenges faced by African Americans in their mental health journeys, including oppression and discrimination. It brings to light the history of how Black Americans have been treated within the mental health care system and highlights how systemic racism plays a role in the care Black Americans recieve.
Williams, Terrie. Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting. North Carolina, USA: Scribner Press, 2009.
Terrie Williams, a renowned clinical social worker and mental health advocate, draws attention to the emotional struggles faced by many African Americans and seeks to destigmatize discussions about mental health. Williams combines personal anecdotes, stories from her clinical practice, and research to shed light on the impact of racism, discrimination, and other societal factors on the mental health of Black individuals. The book discusses various emotional and mental health challenges that can affect African Americans, including depression, anxiety, and trauma.
Picot, Iresha. The Color of Hope: People of Color Mental Health Narratives. South Carolina, USA: CreateSpace Publishing, 2015.
The Color of Hope: People of Color Mental Health Narratives is a project dedicated to shedding light on mental health within communities of color. This initiative shares personal stories from individuals affected by mental illness, aiming to initiate open discussions, challenge the stigma, and break down feelings of shame associated with mental health issues. Contributors to this project represent a diverse range of individuals, including those living with mental health conditions and those impacted by their loved ones’ struggles. These stories encompass a wide spectrum of experiences, from depression and bipolar disorder to borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and more.
Pierce-Baker, Charlotte. This fragile life: a mother’s story of a bipolar son. Chicago, Lawrence Hill Books, 2012.
In “This Fragile Life,” Pierce-Baker provides a deeply personal account of her family’s journey in navigating the challenges of her son’s mental illness. She offers insights into the emotional and practical aspects of caring for a loved one with bipolar disorder, shedding light on the impact it has on families and caregivers. Along with this, her narrative provides insight into how cultural differences within Black communities have on caregiving and perception of a child with a mental disorder.
Poussaint, Alvin F. Lay my burden down: unraveling suicide and the mental health crisis among African-Americans. Boston: Beacon Press, 2000.
Lay My Burden Down: Unraveling Suicide and the Mental Health Crisis Among
African-Americans by Alvin F. Poussaint is an exploration of the complex issue of suicide and mental health challenges within the African American community. The book sheds light on personal stories and experiences, providing valuable insights into the emotional struggles faced by African Americans. Poussaint offers strategies and solutions for addressing these issues, emphasizing the importance of culturally sensitive mental health support and community engagement. In essence, the book serves as a vital resource for understanding and addressing the mental health crisis among African Americans.
Secondary:
Dressler, William W. Stress and Adaptation in the Context of Culture. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1991.
In his study, anthropologist William Dressler uses socio-anthropological methods to calculate exact risk factors for depression with the Black American commuity. To do this, he uses a Black community in the American rural south as a case study. With his study, he points out how social and historical context is a number one fator in understanding how mental health affects Black Americans in today’s society.
Evans, Stephanie Y. Black women’s mental health: balancing strength and vulnerability. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2017.
The book examines the unique challenges faced by Black women, including the societal pressures to embody strength while simultaneously grappling with vulnerabilities. Evans highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the mental health needs of Black women, as well as the role of resilience and community support in their well-being. Overall, Black Women’s Mental Health offers a nuanced and insightful perspective on the complex dynamics of mental health within the Black female community and provides valuable insights about their intersection with mental health and societal pressures.
Gary, Lawrence E. Mental health: a challenge to the Black community. Philadelphia: Dorrance, 1978.
Lawrence E. Gary’s book, Mental Health: A Challenge to the Black Community, addresses the critical issue of mental health within the Black community. This work explores the unique challenges and barriers that Black individuals face when it comes to mental health, including cultural stigmas, systemic inequalities, and historical trauma. With specific arguments for generational trauma, Lawrences book offers true data and analysis to support his discussion.
Hooks, Bell. Sisters of the yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery. Boston: South End Press, 1993.
In this book, Hooks delves into various aspects of the lives of Black women, including their struggles, resilience, and the unique challenges they face due to intersecting factors of race, gender, and class. She addresses issues such as self-esteem, body image, and the impact of racism and sexism on mental and emotional well-being.
Jackson, Harold W. Mental Health in Black America. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1996.
Harold Jackson’s work Mental Health in Black America, like many other books in this lineup, focuses on how Black Americans’ quality of life correlates to mental and behavioral health. Jackson provides a new persepctive by studying the ways in which Black Americans cope with the adversity of livin in the United States as a minority group.
Jones, Reginald L. African American Mental Health. Hampton, VA: Cobb and Henry Publishers, 1998.
Reginald L. Jones provides insights into the disparities in access to mental health care and the impact of systemic racism on mental well-being. He also explores culturally sensitive approaches to mental health treatment and interventions, aiming to improve mental health outcomes for African Americans. The book addresses the unique challenges and experiences faced by African Americans in the context of mental health, including cultural factors, historical influences, and contemporary issues.
Mendes, Gabriel N. Under the Strain of Color: Harlem’s Lafargue Clinic and the promise of an
antiracist psychiatry. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2015.
This book examines the history of the Lafargue Clinic, a mental health clinic that operated in Harlem, New York, from 1946 to 1958. The clinic was unique in its approach, as it sought to provide mental health services with a focus on addressing the specific needs and experiences of Black patients. Mendes explores the history of the clinic and its founders who were committed to addressing racial disparities in mental health care. The book delves into the challenges they faced and the ways in which they sought to provide culturally competent and antiracist mental health care to the African American community during a time of segregation and discrimination in the United States.
Metzl, Jonathan. The protest psychosis: how schizophrenia became a Black disease. Boston: Beacon Press, 2009.
Metzl delves into specific case studies and historical events to illustrate how mental health diagnoses were weaponized to stigmatize and marginalize Black activists. He also discusses the broader implications of this phenomenon for racial disparities in mental healthcare. In essence, the book reveals how social and political forces have shaped the perception and diagnosis of mental illness, particularly within the context of racial discrimination, shedding light on the historical injustices faced by African Americans in the mental health system.
Turner, Erlanger A. Mental Health Among African Americans: Innovations in research and practice.
Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books, 2019.
Mental Health Among African Americans: Innovations in Research and Practice by Erlanger Turner is a comprehensive work that delves into the various aspects of mental health within the African American community. It highlights innovative research and practical approaches aimed at understanding and addressing mental health disparities among African Americans. Overall, it serves as a valuable resource for understanding historical context and cultural factors that
contribute to mental health disparities within the community.
Umeh, Uchenna. “Mental Illness in Black Community, 1700-1901: A Short History” Black Past. March 11, 2019. JSTOR
This article describes a detailed history about the mental health issues within the Black Community. Daitng back to the 18th century, Umeh gives a detailed analysis about how Black patients were treated by mental health professionals once mental health care began to emerge in the United States. She keys in on how slavery, systemic oppression, and eugenics were the cause for the lack of and mistreatment of Black Americans within the mental health community. Her work goes on to explain how the malpractice of mental health professionals from the 18th-20th century developed into cultural stigma and distrust, thus highlighting the reasoning behind the mental health crisis within the Black community.
