“Black people don’t commit suicide.” My client’s grandmother spat the words out angrily while staring at me in disbelief. In an attempt to abruptly end the conversation, she grabbed her purse as if I was wasting her time and shifted toward the door. Earlier that day, her teenage granddaughter came to my counseling office in the school and opened up to me about having ongoing thoughts of dying and killing herself. I saw this student almost daily, she laughed and smiled often, but clearly behind the smiles was pain. As part of my professional obligation, I encouraged my client to allow me to notify a parent or guardian so we called her grandmother.
Well, I can only imagine how my client felt when her grandmother completely invalidated her feelings. Ashamed, embarrassed and maybe even a little guilty my client hung her head as her grandmother continued to rant on about how Black women are strong and don’t kill themselves. She went on to tell me how just the other day her granddaughter was playing around on the phone and there was no way her grandchild was depressed. The grandmother was convinced that I was taking this too seriously and no one in their family needed counseling.
Unfortunately in my time as a counselor in school and community settings I encountered many situations where opinion and false information was valued over the recommendation of a trustworthy professional. Here are 4 common misperceptions about mental health that are barriers to people seeking treatment.
1. Black people don’t “commit” suicide. We can look at recent events in the news and see young Black men and women ARE dying by suicide. On a positive note statistics from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention indicate that African-Americans continue to have one of the lowest rates of death by suicide. However these rates do not include suicide attempts, many of which often go unreported. In addition, having suicidal thoughts is often a sign of Major Depressive Disorder, even if the person does not attempt suicide the thoughts should be taken seriously and addressed by a professional.
2. Counseling is for crazy people. This statement could not be more false. Honestly, avoiding help when it is available is crazy in my opinion. Counselors are trained to help people deal with problems of everyday living like stress or address more serious chronic mental illness. Anyone who is trying to cope with daily life can benefit from counseling. Why wait until a situation is out of control to seek out support?
3. I can talk to my pastor instead of going to counseling. As a woman of faith, spirituality is the foundation of my life. HOWEVER, unless your pastor is a licensed psychotherapist or psychologist, talking to him or her is not a substitute for working with a mental health professional. I personally believe spirituality is a critical component of mental wellness; however you can talk to your pastor in conjunction with seeing a therapist. You can also consider finding a counselor that integrates general spirituality or your particular religious beliefs into the treatment.
4. Telling a stranger my business isn’t going to fix my problems. Actually, talking to a stranger might be the perfect answer to your problem. Unlike your friend or a family member, a therapist is a non-judgmental third party who can provide insight into your situation. Effective counseling does NOT focus on talking about problems but uncovering solutions. Over time you will build a relationship with your counselor and gain the tools to transform your life.
Sometimes I think about how the right support could have transformed the life of the teen girl I mentioned in the beginning. I saw her a little over a year after that incident. I was no longer her school counselor and she was still battling depression. She ended up failing most of her courses, pregnant, and acting out with defiant behavior at home. I guess her grandmother was right, the young lady did not commit suicide, but her mental health issues negatively impacted her life in ways that could have been prevented. Today I challenge you to examine your own beliefs about mental health. By addressing these misperceptions, we can begin to change the stigma associated with getting treatment.
Latrice McNeal is a speaker, licensed professional counselor, and trainer specializing in performance and mental wellness for high achieving leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs. Connect with Latrice on Facebook, LinkedIn, or by email at [email protected].
By subscribing, you consent to receive emails from BlackDoctor.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
