Mental Health and African Americans

Mental Health and African Americans

Mental health issues in America have long been an area of ​​public health that has often been overlooked.

Various areas of mental health such as depression, social phobias, and bipolar disorder are just a few illnesses that affect over 42 million Americans. Their grip on those affected is a virtual death grip. These illnesses can make victims' lives unmanageable.

Between the numerous challenges a person faces from work, family, friends and basic life, it can be stressful enough. We as humans are pulled in different directions. What's worse, all of these existential responsibilities can deprive an individual of the chance to care for themselves.

"Mood disorders are physical illnesses that affect the brain. The exact cause is not known, but an imbalance in the brain is known to play a role," said an official from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), based in Chicago, IL, believes there are benefits to seeking treatment through psychotherapy. “Psychotherapy (talk therapy) can be very helpful,” says Dr. Charles Mayweather, social worker in Washington, DC. People may need additional help dealing with unhealthy relationships or harmful lifestyles that are contributing to their illness.

Just as an aspirin can reduce a fever without curing the infection that causes it, psychotherapeutic medications work by controlling symptoms. Psychotherapeutic medications do not cure mental illness, but in many cases they can help a person function despite some ongoing psychological pain and difficulty coping with problems.

Something like fear is a normal reaction to life-changing events. Everyone gets stressed or anxious, but most people can bounce back. But anxiety that is so frequent, intense and uncontrollable that it interferes with everyday life - this can be a sign of an anxiety disorder.

For example, medications like chlorpromazine can turn off the “voices” of some people with psychosis and help them see reality more clearly. And antidepressants can lift dark, heavy depressive moods. The degree of response—from small relief of symptoms to complete relief—depends on a variety of factors related to the individual and the disorder being treated.

Anxiety affects millions of men and women, according to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), a Washington-based mental health organization. Nearly 7 percent of all registered college students in America report symptoms. Surprisingly, women are twice as likely to be diagnosed as men.

“Anxiety disorders” is a broad term. It includes six psychiatric (as in real or medical) disorders. Although the symptoms of each anxiety disorder are different for different people. They all provoke fear or worry that interferes with normal life. General anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are all disorders that fall into this broad category.

Anxiety disorders are real, serious, and most importantly… treatable.

When treating disorders, treatment may include therapy or medication, or a combination of both. With time and patience, up to 90 percent of people who receive appropriate care from a healthcare professional will recover and lead full and productive lives.

An untreated anxiety disorder can lead to much more serious consequences, such as: B. to deeper depression problems or deeper substance abuse. In extreme cases, suicide can result. Early treatment can help prevent these problems.

The best advice is to get tested early, before potential illnesses can worsen.

Organizations similar to Screening for Mental Health, Inc. (SMH) have been providing valuable educational materials and screening tools to colleges and universities for the past 17 years. Douglas G. Jacobs, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and president and CEO of SMH, says, "I'm fighting the good fight to give our youth a chance at good mental health services, just as I did to be at the forefront." National Depression Screening Day. “

"Our organization (SMH) is a non-profit organization that provides screenings for depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide intervention, alcohol problems and eating disorders. These programs are aimed at community and mental health sites, employers and health care organizations, colleges/universities and high schools."

Another organization is College Response. College Response is an evidence-based, do-it-yourself program that specifically addresses depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, alcohol use disorders, and suicide prevention.

Alternative practitioner psychotherapy

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