NursingLink

Library >> Browse Articles >> Mental Health and Behavior

Racism's Effect on African American American Mental Health

summited by Demetrice Lee
Source: Chico C. Norwood Staff Writer

For generations, mental illness, or even the moere mention of mental illness, in the African American community has been taboo. As far as mental illness is concerned, the African American communty hasn't been given adequate attention. A report from the United States Surgeon General says that African Americans "may be less likely to suffer from phobias." than non blacks. The report also notes that whites are nearly twice as likely as African American Americans to commint suicide, suicides rates among young black men are high as those of young non blacks. The sucide rate among African American ages 10 to 14 increase 233 percent, compared to 120 percent of comparable non Hispanic whites fro 1980 to 1995. African Americans, repordely, are particularly more at risk for mental illness than any other group because they are over-represented in the "high-need population." African American make up about 40 percent of the homeless population and nearly half of all inmates in state and federal prisons. African American children and youth make up 45 percent of children in public foster care, which more than 80 percent are young black African Americans, and more than half are waiting to be adopted. One study reported that more than 25 percent of American American youth exposed to violences met diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disoder pinpoint exactly what causes depression in every case, they have identified three factors-biology, genetics, and enviroment-that could either directly cause or predispose an individual to depression. "If we look at the exposure of African AMericans to things that wer recognize as risk factors in developing depression, ( we see that) we got esposed to those more often, said a black psychologist. What we don't think is that there is a genetic predisposition on the part of African Americans to be depressed."

Depression can make some feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Signs of depression includes: Nervousness and worry
Feelings of sadness that don't go away. Loss of interest in and withdrawal from usual activites. Irritability or restlessness. Lack of energy, Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much. Feeling of sadness. Poor appetite or eating too much. Doctors recommend that if you think you are suffering from depression, the first thing to do, is to seek out someone to talk to. If that fails, seek the assistance of a professional counselor, psychologists or psychiatrist.

---