Is there a mental health stigma within the black community?

Is there a mental health stigma within the black community?I'm noticing one, as someone with Bipolar Disorder. I guess it's a part of our culture, the old hard-working survivor thing that set in over the course of the past 400 years, or maybe even before that. But it seems that there's an unspoken rule about it--"if you can't see it, it's not there. If you can't see it, it doesn't exist." I was thinking about it today, while I pondered my situation. It's hard for me to explain the disorder to my family members (parents especially), because since it's not a physical ailment, they expect me to just cheer up and get over it. They think I'm unable to adapt because I wasn't brought up in the "olden days," when there were bigger fish to fry. Mental health is a "white people's issue" according to some. No one believes you when you say you need help until they can visibly see it--like with alcoholism, drug addictions, etc. The problem with that is, though, that--especially with Bipolar Disorder--it shows up in the form of a suicide, or an attempted one. A stomach full of pills. Paralysis from the neck-down after a misguided bullet through the head, or a jump from someone's roof. THEN suddenly, the cries for help make sense--but by then it's a bit late.

What are your thoughts on the matter? And how can we raise the awareness of the seriousness of mental illness among us? Within our community, and outside of it?

Answer by sowevecometothis
Here is an article that talks about exactly what you are describing: http://healthyplace.com/communities/depression/minorities_5.asp

Answer by choice_4_men
I think there is a general health stigma that exists in quite a few minority communities in America. This can be attributed to lack of information and health insurance. The less access you have to information (poor or uneducated), the more likely you are to shrug off health issues. I grew up in a household like this.

On the flip side, communities with easy access to medical info. and insurance (rich and educated) seem like they overmedicate and want to grab a new medicine for every itch.

Answer by NavyDude
Yes.

Answer by amandamaria1432
I'm not black, just grew up with a lot of black people around me, like family but just don't share blood =o)

I can get what you're saying (as much as someone can who isn't living what you're experiencing anyhow) and do agree there is the general feeling that you need to be stronger, and tougher, to deal better because you've been through so much already. Personally, seen much the happen with a friend who got severely depressed after she had her baby, postpartum likely (never knew for sure, she wouldn't see a doctor) and she felt the same about not being able to be open with her family.

Hers was slightly worse I'd think, because she was worried they'd think she wanted to hurt her baby (there was a ton of press out at that time about the woman who drowned her own children and claimed postpartum) so it wasn't *all* based on being black, but also just that generally, I think in every race & community mental issues aren't really accepted as much as you may believe. Many do still think of it in the way you said, where there's nothing physical and they expect people are basically just having a 'bad patch', when it's actually an illness that isn't going to just 'pass' on its own.

All I can say is hopefully you're seeking medical attention on your own then if you truly don't feel you're able to talk with your family, or friends, because to be isolated with your own thoughts isn't good for you in the end!

Best luck, hope something I said may help a little! =o)

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