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Harlem Pastor Opens First-Of-Its-Kind Mental Health Center: “There’s A Normalization Of Trauma In This Community”

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Gwendolyn Harris        –Blackdoctor.org

It’s not uncommon within the Black church – and Black community at large –  to be told “just pray on it” when it comes to matters of mental health. Prayer does change things, but Rev. Michael Walrond is very clear that prayer is “not the same as having a mental health practitioner.”

On December 15, Rev. Walrond, lead visionary of First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, opened the HOPE Center at 228 W. 116th St. as a safe, stigma-free space for mental health services.

Located just a few blocks from his church, the HOPE Center, which stands for “Healing On Purpose and Evolving,” will offer services to children, adults and groups, according to a DNAinfo feature story.

Click here for full story.

We’ve Been Trained To Forgive & Forget But It’s Not Healthy To Pretend You’re Okay With Trump Being Elected

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Nikki Lynette       –Blackdoctor.org

On December 19th, the members of the Electoral College will cast their ballots for the President of the United States. Although this vote is usually considered a formality, with the expectation being that the Electors will rubberstamp the outcome of the November election, this year it has taken on a new significance after the results in November sparked the biggest social conversation about the electoral college that I’ve seen in my lifetime. Many people didn’t seem to know prior to voting that Hillary winning the popular vote did not mean that she would win the presidency.

Another thing that most Americans didn’t know at the time of casting their vote was the fact that the American spy and law enforcement agencies had reason to believe, weeks before the presidential election took place, that Russia had allegedly made plans to have computer hackers interfere with the outcome. Problem was, they didn’t know precisely what the goal of the interference was or how it would be carried out.

Recently, the C.I.A. divulged their findings, stating that Russia had intervened to make Trump president. And although nobody knows why the C.I.A. didn’t divulge this information before the election, the news has left all of us dumbfounded, with many media outlets demanding that the December 19th Electoral vote be delayed until they get to the bottom of the confusion.

In the aftermath of Trump’s election, our country has seen a rise in hate crimes and public displays of racism. And amongst those affected by this ugliness the most, the overwhelming message has been to rise above it, to be the bigger person, to forgive. Forgiveness in the face of racial injustice is a familiar hallmark of the Black church’s influence on how Black people handle sociopolitical issues.

Even as recently as July 22, 2015, in the aftermath of the Charleston church massacre, while most of us were still trembling from outrage, the families of the victims as well as the church were expressing forgiveness for the murderer.

I understand that forgiveness is an important part of letting go of something painful. But at what point does the expectation to forgive become self suppression?

At what point does preaching forgiveness turn into lulling people into complacency, encouraging them to accept the things they once considered unacceptable? And most importantly, what do you think that does to a person psychologically?

In the Black community, the damaging affects of self suppression show up time and time again. The expectation that a person will stay silent or quickly recover from something traumatic creates room for mental illness to thrive. It’s only been about 150 years since slavery ended in this country. The road Black people walk is very different from people who were never subject to institutionalized racism.

For this reason, it is important to remember that a person’s race and upbringing play a huge role in their mental health needs. This is why “culturally competent care,” which is the ability to provide care to people with diverse values, cultures, and beliefs, is so important for mental health. It’s something I never even thought about, until I needed help myself.

The Electoral College was founded 83 years before Black people got the right to vote. It was created as a way to deter the masses from electing a demagogue, which is a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.

Now, on December 19, the Electoral College is expected to vote in a man whose popularity is due, in part, to his tenure as a reality TV star. And although some electors have publicly stated that they will snub their state’s “faithless elector” laws that prohibit them from voting against their party, it is quite probable that Trump will be inaugurated and the emboldening of overt racists will continue.

I don’t know if Russia impacted the results of our election. I don’t know if it makes sense to hold Trump personally responsible for racists acting out on the streets. But what I do know is that it’s not healthy to pretend you’re okay with it if you’re not, all in the name of forgiveness.

5 Real-Life Questions You Should Ask Your Relatives

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Multigenerational family talking in kitchen

 

Cousin Jeff       –Blackdoctor.org

You may not talk to your relatives all the time, but that’s family. When you see each other during the holidays or at a big family event/gathering, then it’s all love right? So don’t let that precious time go to waste by talking about the weather, or your new job, etc. As family, more than ever, we need to make sure that each one of our family members is doing well in all aspects of their life.

So, talking to you now, here are questions we need to ask our relatives when we see them, talk to them on the phone, text, or skype. These questions help determine where they are at and what they need to do.

1. When was the last time you went to the doctor and what did he/she say? A lot of family members will say that they indeed have gone to the doctor, but it’s been awhile. If they only answer with, they said that I’m fine. Then ask the name of their doctor and give that doctor a call to see what they really said. If the family member can’t remember the name of their doctor, it’s likely they didn’t go, so you can have them make an appointment right then and there.

2. What’s your blood pressure? With heart disease being the number one cause of death in African Americans, high blood pressure is a first indication. So be sure to see what your loved one’s blood pressure is. If he/she does not know then more than likely, there is a Walmart, Walgreens, CVS or other drugstore close to you because many of them have blood pressure monitors that you can administer yourself. It’s a small price to pay for piece of mind, knowing that your relatives are okay.

3. Who in the family suffers from a major illness (including mental)?  That’s a family health history question that goes unanswered in many households. It’s important to know who and what side of the family has had what disease like cancer, stroke, etc so you know if you or your children may be affected. Don’t just settle for answers about physical illnesses, be sure to ask who in the family suffered from mental illness too. Catching it early or before it has a chance to hit you is key to changing your family health history for good!

4. How often do you get out to exercise?  Even if it’s just walking, making sure your family members are doing something–ANYTHING–to get their bodies moving is a must. If you can tell they don’t get out much then suggest they take at least one day out of the week to do 15 minutes or just walk around the block, walk inside of the mall, go swimming, play their favorite sport, etc. Physical activity is key in living a longer life.

5. Do you have someone to talk to when you are feeling down? Sometimes, just knowing that a person is available to talk to is enough to make people feel at ease. I know it’s hard sometimes to always be available for that begging cousin or that needy uncle who seems to be always trying to start a business, but they are family and there’s a way you can still talk to them while not feeding into the negative. Don’t ignore their calls and just make sure there is someone they can confide in, even if it’s not you.

That’s family y’all. And family is all we have. Thanks for listening.

These PTSD Signs Are Commonly Overlooked In Children

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Family problems.

 

HealthDay News       –Blackdoctor.org

Parents often fail to recognize post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) in young children, a new British study says.

“When people talk about PTSD they often think about soldiers returning from war zones. But children who experience traumatic events such as car accidents, assaults and natural disasters are also at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder,” said lead researcher Richard Meiser-Stedman, from Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia.

“Symptoms can include traumatic memories and nightmares, avoiding reminders of the trauma, and feeling like the world is very unsafe,” he explained in a university news release.

Researchers followed more than 100 children aged 2 to 10 who had been in a road collision involving a car crash, or being hit while walking, or getting knocked off their bicycle. All had been taken to the hospital with injuries such as bruising, fractures or loss of consciousness.

They were assessed for PTSD two to four weeks after the incident, and again at six months and then three years later.

The researchers found that those who showed signs of stress soon after the incident didn’t necessarily go on to suffer PTSD after three years, And, while some developed PTSD that persisted for years, this occurred only in a minority of cases. Most “bounce back” naturally in time, the study authors said.

Injury severity was associated with PTSD incidence up to six months after an incident, but not three years after.

However, the researchers added, most parents of children who still had PTSD after three years didn’t recognize their child’s symptoms. This finding suggests that relying on parent reports of PTSD in their children may not be adequate for identifying chronic PTSD in young children, the researchers said.

The researchers also found that children were more likely to suffer PTSD if their parents also suffered PTSD in the short- or long-term. But even these parents may not recognize their child’s PTSD.

“This study reveals some really interesting links between how children and their parents respond to a trauma,” Meiser-Stedman said.

Children may experience PTSD for years without their parents being aware of it. The researchers also found a strong link between parents having PTSD and their children having it as well, even years after the traumatic event.

“This could be because parental stress early on is worsened by their children’s symptoms, or because the child’s responses are shaped by their parents’ initial reactions — or a bit of both, leading to an amplification of symptoms for both parties,” he said.

“Interestingly, even in these cases, the parents were still unlikely to acknowledge their children’s suffering,” Meiser-Stedman added.

“This study strengthens the case for considering parental mental health, and providing support for both children and their parents in the aftermath of a trauma to reduce the long-term effects for both,” he concluded.

The study was published Nov. 8 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

More information

The U.S. National Center for PTSD has more on PTSD in children and teens.

Should You Ask About Mental Health History When Dating?

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Flirting young African American woman

 

Daunte Henderson, BlackDoctor.org Contributor

The signs aren’t always clear to see when you first start dating someone. Heck, you can’t even tell what a person is truly about if you’ve been dating them for months and maybe years. Who knows what truly goes on in the hearts and minds of people. They say actions speak louder than words, but what if your significant other doesn’t display any signs of mental health issues?

The tragic death of Julia Martin at the hands of her ex-fiancee brought up some interesting questions about knowing the mental health history of your loved one. The father of Martin said the now deceased ex-fiancee Nick Harvey showed no signs of being dangerous before killing his daughter. So how does a person just randomly commit such a vicious act out of nowhere? According to the brother of Harvey, he’s had a documented history of diagnosed mental health issues. One has to ask was Mr. Harvey forthcoming about his challenges and did Ms. Martin know the extent of them?

BlackDoctor.org spoke with Chicago-based clinical therapist Kyla M. Gordon to see if we could give our readers a mental health screening process before they decide to date someone.

BlackDoctor.org: Is it possible to check someone’s mental health history without asking them directly?

Kyla Gordon: In short, no. Both snooping around and asking about someone’s mental health history is just as intrusive as researching and inquiring [about] someone’s physical health history. Both are private and confidential personal information. People living with a mental illness want to be able to know and trust the person they’re with before they feel comfortable in sharing such fragile information.

BlackDoctor.org: What are signs to watch out for when evaluating someone’s mental health when you first meet them?

Kyla Gordon: More people are living with an undiagnosed mental illness than diagnosed because let’s face it, we have all dealt with some type of depression, inattentiveness, or anxiety in some point in our lives. There are many people coping with mental illness and are living successful lives because they understand their triggers, utilize coping skills or they are on a medication regimen that works for them. When it negatively impacts our daily lives where the inability to function is significant, that’s when it becomes noticed by loved ones and the outside world.

Here are some, but not all of the more severe symptoms of mental illness to be aware of:

Psychosis: an impaired loss of contact with reality; i.e. seeing, hearing, feeling, or smelling something that isn’t there

Mania: elevated mood, inflated self esteem, decreased need for sleep, difficulty paying attention, racing thoughts

BlackDoctor.org: People often look at a person’s genetic history when finding a mate. Are mood, emotional and behavioral disorders hereditary?

Kyla Gordon: There’s a possibility. However, if your parent has a mental illness, that does not mean you will have one. It means the risk of having a mental illness is higher than if you didn’t have an affected family member. Mood, emotional and behavioral disorders can be caused by a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors.

Biological factors may include:

 

  • genetics
  • brain defects
  • brain injuries
  • substance abuse

 

Psychological factors may include:

  • sexual/physical/emotional abuse
  • neglect or the loss of someone significant, such as a parent

Environmental factors include:

  • a dysfunctional family life
  • a tumultuous community life
  • substance abuse by the person’s parents
  • changing of jobs

BlackDoctor.org: What are best practices when dating someone with mental health issues?

Kyla Gordon: Be patient and empowering. Educate yourself on their symptoms, medications and/or preventative methods. Most importantly, set boundaries for yourself. You mustn’t work harder than the person living with the mental illness. Support your mate, however, understand you can’t fix them. Being more diligent with their illness will lead to personal burnout and reinforce that they are incapable of doing things on their own.

BlackDoctor.org: Are there certain types of mental health issues that make a person at risk for violent outbursts such as the one in the story?

Kyla Gordon: People with mental health illness are no more likely to be violent than those who aren’t suffering with mental illnesses. Most people living with a mental illness are not violent and only 3-5% of violent acts are attributed to individuals living with a mental illness. According to statistics, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population. However, there are some factors that may increase the risk of violence in a number of individuals living with mental illness.  Some of those factors may include untreated psychosis and abuse of alcohol or illegal substances.

 

Instagram’s New Feature Could Be A Mental Health Life Saver

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Young black woman looking at laptop

 

Ruthie Hawkins, BlackDoctor.org Contributor

Instagram, arguably social media’s leading media sharing service, tackles mental healthnwith the swipe of a finger. That’s right, according to the ‘Gram, a new feature will allow users to anonymously flag a photo in the event they think someone needs help.

Once the image is flagged, the individual will receive a message prompting them to select an “option” to get help such as contacting a helpline — which will vary by the user’s location. “Someone saw one of your posts and thinks you might be going through a difficult time. If you need support, we’d like to help,” a message will read.

As for how Instagram plans to execute, according to reports, they’ve partnered with organizations like the National Eating Disorders Association and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to create effective, rather than invasive, messages – instrumental to the success of the tool.

“We listen to mental health experts when they tell us that outreach from a loved one can make a real difference for those who may be in distress. At the same time, we understand friends and family often want to offer support but don’t know how best to reach out,” Instagram’s Chief Operating Officer Marne Levine told Seventeen Magazine. “These tools are designed to let you know that you are surrounded by a community that cares about you, at a moment when you might most need that reminder.”

Additionally, users searching for a hashtag associated with self-harm will be directed to a support page. Though most dangerous hashtags have been banned, for those that are circulating, support options will be available.

The news goes hand-in-hand with Instagram’s announcement that they’ve partnered with Seventeen to launch National Body Confidence Day (Oct. 17) — aka #PerfectlyMe — highlighting “young women and men from the Instagram community who are rocking their self-confidence and embracing their own uniqueness,” the mag reads.

“#PerfectlyMe is a celebration of strength,” Levine says. “It’s about the strength of the support networks that we have seen grow steadily across Instagram, and the strength of individuals in these communities who are redefining beauty standards and building a culture of positivity.”

Though we seldom applaud the next big social media tool (as it seems like a new one drops every day), Instagram’s move to tackle mental health in such a capacity is definitely a game-changer! In addition to opening doors for entrepreneurs, and providing a space for people to connect across the globe, Instagram will likely soon be able to add “save lives” to their growing list of accomplishments!

In the meantime, for those in need of immediate help, please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255. Although life may seem dark and dim right now, always remember, there’s a rainbow at the end of every storm.

 

Why Drake’s Diss About Kid Cudi’s Mental Health Is So Disappointing

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AP Drake and Kid Cudi 
AP
Drake and Kid Cudi

 

Zeba Blay -Huff Post Black Voices

On Monday, Drake released a few brand new tracks on Apple Music, but there’s one in particular that’s catching attention for all the wrong reasons. On the track, titled “Two Birds One Stone,” Drake disses fellow rapper Kid Cudi because of his struggle with mental illness. He raps:

“You were the man on the moon, now you go through your phases

Life of the angry and famous

Rap like I know I’m the greatest and give you the tropical flavors

Still never been on hiatus

You stay xan and perked up so when reality set in you don’t gotta face it.”

Cudi announced on social media on October 4 that he was checking himself into rehab in order to deal with severe anxiety and depression. His candid admission was met with overwhelming support, sparking a trending hashtag about mental illness among black men: #YouGoodMan.

But it looks like that outpouring of love went over Drake’s head. There’s been speculation that the Canadian rapper was most likely getting back at Cudi for a rant he made via Twitter in September, where he accused both Drake and Kanye West of being fake rappers and “jealous, chicken hearted shits.” But while Kanye has already squashed the beef, Drake decided to take shots at Cudi by calling his bout with depression a “phase.” Many people online were unamused:

Click here for full post and tweets.

Can Pokémon Go Really Improve Your Mental Health?

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Pleasant smiling man using cellphone

 

Daunte Henderson, BlackDoctor.org Contributor       posted 10/17/16

Love it hate it, Pokémon Go, a new mobile game based on the popular 1995 game, is helping people with depression and anxiety alleviate their symptoms.

How it works:

According to the hit game’s website, it uses a person’s iPhone and Android device camera and GPS to place Pokémon characters in real world locations, such as public art installations, historical markers and monuments in proximity to the player. In order to earn points, players must “catch” characters by taking aim with “Poké Balls.” Players are encouraged to “search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokémon.”

How it’s changing lives:

As those who struggle with depression know far too well, staying motivated while managing a mental disorder like depression or anxiety can be a challenge. However, shortly after the game dropped, social media users raved over the game’s ability to get them engaged.

“#PokemonGO has changed me so much for the better in only a week. Dealing with BPD, depression& anxiety it has helped me get out of the house,” wrote one Twitter user.

“Real talk – as someone with anxiety/depression, the fact that I’ve spent most of this weekend outside with friends is unreal. #PokemonGo,” penned another.

“I don’t care what you say, #PokemonGo has been helping my husband’s depression more than anything else ever has. ????????????,” raved yet another user, claiming the game tops any treatment.

Meanwhile, a psychologist tells Health he isn’t surprised by these reports. “I think it’s a genuinely positive development,” Ben Michaelis, PhD, an evolutionary clinical psychologist and author of Your Next Big Thing, told the publication.

“The game could provide motivation to go outside and explore the world through a sort of enhanced reality,” he explained. “It could also provide people with enough of a distraction from their fears and inner monologue to get them to do something that might be challenging for them.”

While this all sounds like fun and games (no pun intended), keep in mind, the game shouldn’t be viewed as a cure for depression. In fact, Michaelis says, “one obvious potential drawback [of the app] is that Pokémon Go could become the only way a person can interact with the world.”

How to enjoy the game the healthy way:

Moderation. Allot yourself 30 minutes a day for play—ensuring hunting imaginary creatures isn’t the only physical activity you’re taking part in each day. According to a study published in 2005, walking fast for about 35 minutes a day five times a week or 60 minutes a day three times a week had a significant influence on mild to moderate depression symptoms. In other words, nothing tops good old fashioned exercise.

15 Mental Health Questions You Should Ask Your Date

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Couples Dancing And Drinking At Evening Party

 

T. R. Causay        –Blackdoctor.org

Dating is hard enough as it is. Now, pile on mental health issues stemming from his or her past and its a recipe for disaster. So instead of finding out later that the person you’re dating may have some mental health problems that you didn’t sign up for, here are a few questions you should ask and they should answer (and you should answer too).

1. Do you like your job?

Why: Is the person about to make any major life changes e.g., leave their $200K/year job to go back to school? What’s their attitude to their work? Do they see it as a job, a vocation, or are they primarily motivated by climbing the career ladder?

2. What sort of vacations do you like to take?

Why: Different vacation preferences or amounts of vacation time can be a major source of ongoing incompatibility. For example, if one person likes to take very long trips and the other person has a more standard two weeks vacation time.

3. How was your day?

Why: This question helps establish if your date has a positive or negative attitude? If asking this question leads to five solid minutes of them complaining you’ll know the person sees the glass as half empty.

Also, if anything out of the ordinary has happened that might be affecting your date’s mood, it’s good to factor this in.

4. Tell me about your friends?

Why: When you enter a relationship with someone you’re also entering a relationship with their friends. Also, it’s nice to give your date an opportunity to answer a question that isn’t directly about them.

5. Are you a dog person, a cat person, or neither?

Why: If one of you doesn’t like pets and the other has 3 dogs, that’s likely to be a problem. Science has shown that depending on your preference for a pet, you are prone to get along with certain types of people. Sometimes, very strong “dog people” don’t get along with very atypical “cat people.”

6. Would you like a bite of my food?

Why: This question shows you’re open to sharing. On a first date go for a friendly tone rather than an intimate tone when asking this question. If the person is against it, he or she may be against sharing in life or have some sort of issue with sharing from his/her past.

7. Is it too noisy in here for you?

Why: This shows you’re considerate of other people’s comfort. Don’t be afraid to change plans if you arrive at a restaurant and find it’s too noisy for a good conversation.

8. Are you close to your family? Or, tell me who’s in your family?

Why: Are they very involved with their family of origin? Is this something that appeals to you or not? Are their family intrusive?

9. Is there anything you don’t eat?

Why: Helps you plan future dates but also gives you an opportunity to choose not to pursue dating someone who has very incompatible food preferences from you.

10. Do you/have you ever smoke / drink / do drugs?

Why: You likely have a preference one way or the other.

11. Do you collect anything?

Why: Do they spend a lot of money or time collecting something?

12. How do you feel about…. [insert what you are most passionate about]?

Why: Whatever you’re really passionate about, do they respect it? For example, gaming.

13. Have you been to any good restaurants recently?

Why: Tells you something about whether they seek out new experiences.

14. What are your thoughts about the upcoming election (any upcoming election)?

Why: The main point here is not to jump to assumptions about your date’s politics. If you jump to an assumption that they have the same politics as you, they might feel too awkward to say that their politics are different.

15. When was the last time you really had fun?

Why: This gives you a glimpse into what the person really loves to do. Not just in their spare time, but really makes them happy. If it’s something strange, then you may want to back off.