In recent years, celebrities have brought mental health to the forefront of the conversation on health. Artists and athletes are laying the groundwork for families to take charge of their mental health.
According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black Americans are more likely than white Americans to report emotional distress and hopelessness. African Americans living in poverty are twice as likely to report serious psychological distress.
Access to mental health services is one of the biggest challenges in the African American community.
“There’s still a fairly large number of African Americans who don’t feel they get treated the same way, particularly in the mental health arena,” said psychiatrist Dr. Willis Holloway.
Historically skeptical of health care, many African Americans are acutely aware of discrimination in the medical field. It’s a turnoff and often one of the reasons they don’t seek help.
But when it comes to acceptance of mental health treatment and early intervention for children, there is momentum.
“Those kids are still in the development stages. Their brains are still being shaped and molded,” Dr. Holloway said. “You have an opportunity to put some hard wiring in place that will carry that kid forward, hopefully in a positive way.”
Read more at KSN.com.
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