Mental Health Therapy Stigma in the Caribbean Community: Starting the Conversation
Each week I do a Facebook live on various topics related to mental health. This week I was going to solely discuss and teach a healthy coping skill.
When I realized it was suicide prevention week, I felt compelled to discuss how the stigma of mental health actually can burden people from getting the help they need which can result in suicide.
As a Caribbean American, my experiences with mental health have been far and few in between. Culturally I found that mental health is not even a thought and people would rather blame spiritual reasons for one’s mental health symptoms. In this video, I share of losing someone due to mental health stigma and lack of awareness and education about mental health.
It is imperative that as a community, we begin to have the conversation about mental health, normalize expressing emotions, learn and teach the importance of self-care, and gain knowledge of mental health symptoms to begin recognizing the signs when help is needed.
Take some time to view the video below to learn more about we can start removing the stigma of mental health, normalize getting help, and taking care of yourself.
At the end of the video, I share a simple example of how to do deep breathing techniques to help gain knowledge of healthy coping skills and self-care.
2 WAYS TO START TO DECREASE THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH
Start the conversation: Talk about mental health, talk about emotions, express your thoughts and feelings in an appropriate way and safe environment. We have to start getting comfortable with having potentially uncomfortable conversations when it comes to mental health wellness and emotional health. Inform people you care about on what mental health awareness is and means and how they too can be proactive in this area.
Educate. Those who know, know and many don’t know that they don’t know. Basically, educate yourself on the basics of mental health like healthy coping skills, self-care, and mindfulness. These are just a simple Google or Youtube search away. Also start to educate yourself on the basic symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. These are some of the more popular mental health concerns. Don’t be afraid to talk about what you learn with friends and family, so people can start to be more familiar with certain symptoms, but also start to normalize the conversation around mental health.
Below you will find the video regarding removing the stigma of mental health, suicide prevention, and deep breathing technique.
I hope this article help decrease the mental health stigma in the Caribbean community and helps you or your loved ones find the right therapist that will suit your needs. If you’re feeling stuck, feel free to give me a call at 856.441.5216. I will be happy to assist you and help direct you to the right person. If you’re looking for help with trauma therapy, managing depression or anxiety, you can read more about how I can help here.