Eliminating Stigma's Power

There is a lot of stigma surrounding mental illness. This is particularly the case in the Black community. A Let’s Talk Facts brochure about mental health developed by the American Psychiatric Association (helathyminds.org) addresses access to care, cultural issues, and rates of mental disorders in the Black community. It’s important to note that there isn’t a greater rate of occurrence of mental illness among Blacks. However, there are differences in access to care and quality of care. One out of every three Blacks who need mental health treatment actually receives it. Poor quality care and lack of culturally competent services result in mental illnesses that are disproportionately more disabling for Blacks.

I first showed signs of major depression in college. When my symptoms got worse and I was rarely leaving my dorm room, I decided to see a counselor. This was my first experience with therapy and my counselor and I did not connect. She did little to establish rapport with me and dismissed my symptoms. She minimized what I was experiencing and suggested that I was simply having trouble adjusting to college. I never went back. Over the years, I tried to manage my symptoms on my own. But when my depression worsened and I started to show signs of mania, I decided to try counseling again. I had a very positive experience, but I was still hesitant to tell her everything. My lack of openness likely contributed to my misdiagnosis and the worsening of my symptoms. I ignored my symptoms until they were incapacitating. It took me battling thoughts of suicide to finally be completely honest with the mental health professionals in my life. Today, the thought of harming myself is unfathomable. I am too connected to those around me. I am committed to living the best life that I can and supporting everyone connected to me in doing the same. I am here because I asked for help when I needed it. The stigma surrounding mental illness, suicide in particular, prevented me from seeking help sooner.

It seems that bipolar disorder has been mentioned in the media a lot lately. Maybe these stories just stand out to me because I identify with them on a personal level. Regardless, I am glad to see people sharing their stories and raising awareness about mental illness. But I have encountered a number of people who think bipolar disorder is just the popular disorder to have right now because of the recent media attention. They even question the existence of the disorder and other forms of mental illness. I believe such beliefs stem from the pervasive, deep-rooted stigma attached to mental illness in our society. These attitudes used to keep me from sharing my experiences. In fact, they kept me from seeking help. I have decided that it is more important for me to tell my story and celebrate my success, especially if it encourages someone to get the help they need. As a mental health professional and a Black woman, I am aware of the pronounced stigma associated with mental illness in the Black community. I believe the stigma will start to diminish the more we tell our stories.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself please reach out to someone. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.