By: Erin Coleman
February 1st initiates the start of Black History Month. During this time, a culture of people gather in various ways to pay tribute to the history and impact of African Americans in our communities. Recent events have highlighted a critical focus for this group: Black Mental Health. Historically speaking, the Black community has been disadvantaged in receiving adequate attention and help to ensure that mental health is a priority. Generations of trauma and preconceived notions have distracted Black individuals from understanding how their mental health affects themselves, their loved ones, and the generations to come. It’s important to debunk the myth that any sign or symptom of mental illness indicates that one is “crazy” or “unfit” in any capacity. In actuality, our mental health is simply the combination of how we think, feel, behave, and how those three things interact with each other. These are natural functions of our body that everyone experiences regardless of gender, race, or creed.
Unfortunately, when these aspects of ourselves are unaddressed, it affects how we interact with the world around us. Consider this framework:
“Our thoughts influence our feelings and our feelings shape our behaviors.”
Negative self-talk and unhelpful thought patterns can damage our emotional health and how we think about ourselves and those around us. These thought patterns also contribute to fluctuations in our mood that ultimately affect our desire to interact with others. As a resilient community, a lot of how we interact with these parts of us has become a coping mechanism for survival. However, I challenge you to consider what life would be like if you not only survived but also thrived?
To thrive means to “prosper, be fortunate, or successful.” Prospering in your mental health means taking charge of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. No longer will we as a community be bound by negative stereotypes. No longer will we subscribe to the idea that we have to hold everything in for fear that others won’t understand. Today is the day that we embrace our emotionality and how that guides us to interact with others. Finally, we live freely, using our autonomy to better ourselves and the generations to come. If this feels like a journey you want to start, consider these three steps to empower you to take charge of your mental health:
- Address the myth
- You aren’t crazy! You’re human, and acknowledging how you think and feel doesn’t take away your value as a person. Remember, feelings are natural to everyone, including you.
- Take a personal assessment.
- Using a journal or notepad, write out the following headings: Thoughts, Feelings, Behaviors. Under each heading, write statements or words that you think describe what you’ve experienced over the last week.
- Introduce healthier coping mechanisms
- We love community! Share a meal and kick back with those who refill your soul. Plug into your faith or spiritual groups and rituals to ground you. Or become a plant person! Connecting with nature is a great way to sync your growth and healing with natural elements around you.
- Speak to someone
- If you’ve noticed a pattern in your emotions or want to learn more about how to take control of your mental health, schedule an appointment with a qualified therapist.
As you celebrate the lives and voices of our beloved historical figures this Black History Month, be sure to do the same for you. There is strength in wanting to explore the best version of you. There’s also a host of therapists with various demographics and specialty areas to walk you alongside that journey of self-exploration. As a community, our mental health matters, and it’s time we let the world know.
Happy Black History Month!
