The stress and mental state of black people

Mental health is a significant part of an individual's life. It determines how one relates to other people, how they handle stress and other external factors, and how they make decisions. People’s mental state is greatly affected by socio-economic factors like class, gender, and even race — which is why taking these various intersections into account is key for understanding mental health in specific contexts. 

Due to historical occurrences and the shared experience of racism, discrimination, and inequality, mental health issues present themselves differently in the black community than they do in other communities. The historical violence and oppression of black people is not only something that affected black predecessors, but science also shows that trauma can be passed down genetically through a process known as epigenetic, which means not only do black people deal with their own trauma in the present day but they’re also deeply affected by the trauma of those that came before them.

Dealing with all these layers of racial trauma, gendered, and economic oppression further compounds the stress that black people go through on a daily basis, which is a huge reason why African Americans are more likely to experience chronic mental health conditions compared to other demographics in America.

A barrier to mental healthcare for black people is medical racism, which stops them from getting the professional help they need. It also isn’t beneficial that mental healthcare is quite expensive as it automatically excludes many from being able to access it. Added to this, social norms in the black community also influence the stress and mental state of all individuals in the group.

There is still a stigma around mental health in the black community, with beliefs about coping mechanisms, emotional openness, and seeking mental healthcare dictating how people treat people with mental health issues and making individuals apprehensive about seeking professional help.

Encouraging mental wellness among black people starts at a structural level. By discussing and dealing with issues such as racism, poverty, mass incarceration, and more, the trauma that black people face will be reduced, allowing for better mental health outcomes across the board. Furthermore, making mental healthcare more accessible and normalizing mental health conversations in the community to fight stigma is also an important way of promoting mental wellness among black people.

Ultimately, focusing on the myriad of factors that affect the mental well-being of black people will help with creating healthier environments that can facilitate mental wellness.