Mental Health Challenges FacingAfrican American Youth in Urban

Communities

Presented byLaverne S. Williams, CSW

Director of the PEWS (Promoting EmotionalWellness & Spirituality) Program

Mission Statement

The Mental Health Associationin New Jersey strives for

children and adults to achievemental health through advocacy,education, training and services.

AgendaAgenda

I. Myths & Common Misconceptions of Mental

Illness

II. Barriers To Treatment

III. Psychological Challenges Facing Black Youths

IV. Oral Communications to Counter Arguments

V. Seven Key Principles of Resilience

Program ObjectivesProgram Objectives

Participants will be able to:

I. Identify Stressors Unique to African American

Youth

II. Recognize Barriers to Seeking Treatment

III. Study Oral Communications to Counter

Arguments Against Mental Health Services

IV. Increase Knowledge of Resiliency Concepts for

Urban Youth

In April 2002, President Bushestablished the President’s New FreedomCommission on Mental Health toeliminate inequalities in mental healthcare.

After analyzing both the public andprivate mental health systems, theCommission released its final report:“Achieving the Promise, TransformingMental Health Care in America” whichrevealed:

Foundation

Although racial and ethnic minorityAmericans are growing at a rapid rate,the mental health system has not keptpace with their diverse needs, oftenunder-serving or inappropriatelyserving them.

It also has not integrated respect andunderstanding of the histories,traditions, beliefs, languages and valuesystem of culturally diverse groups.

Foundation cont.

While efforts to improve services forculturally diverse populations arecurrently underway, significant barriersstill remain. As a result, AmericanIndians, Alaska Natives, AfricanAmericans, Asian Americans, Hispanics,Muslims and Pacific Islanders, have adisproportionately high burden ofdisability from mental disorders.

Foundation cont.

Getting Help

Dr. David Satcher, the first MaleAfrican American SurgeonGeneral stated:

“Every person, regardless of race or ethnicity,should seek help if they have a mental healthproblem or symptoms of a mental disorder.”

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996)

Video Clip

YouTube - "Driving While Black"

True or False:

Experiencing an emotional problem as aphysical symptom is more commonamong communities of color thanamong whites.

True!

Communities of color are more likely toexperience mental illness as physicalsymptoms. (Somatization)

True or False:

Young AfricanAmerican men have alower rate of suicidethan white men.

False!

Suicide rates for young black menare as high as those for youngwhite men.

From 1980 - 1995, the suicide rateamong African Americans ages 10to 14 increased by 233%.

(NMHA survey, 1996)

True or False:

Getting tough with juvenileoffenders by trying them inadult criminal courtsreduces the likelihood thatthey will commit morecrimes.

False!

Youths transferred to adult criminalcourt have significantly higher rates ofre-offending and a greater likelihood ofcommitting subsequent felonies thanyouths who remain in the juvenilejustice system.More likely to be victimized physically& sexually

True or False:

In the 1990s, school violenceaffected mostly whitestudents or students whoattended suburban or ruralschools.

False!

African-American and Hispanic malesattending large inner-city schools thatserve very poor neighborhoods faced –and still face – the greatest risk ofbecoming victims or perpetrators of aviolent act at school.

(This is true despite the recent series of multiple shootings insuburban, middle-class white schools.)

Common Misconceptions

Most people with mental illness are violent.

Depression is a normal part of the aging process

I have a great family and supportive friends – Idon’t need to talk to a professional.

If I seek mental health treatment, they’re just goingto give me some pills to take

Psychiatrists are only in it for the money

Video

Moving Beyond SurvivalMode:

(Promoting Mental Wellness and Resiliency as aWay to Cope with Urban Trauma

Mee Productions

Stress & Trauma – Domestic Violence – SingleParenting

StatisticsStatistics

The average annual violent crime rate in urbanareas is 74% higher than the rural crime rate and34% higher than suburban areas.

African American males are the mainperpetrators and victims of violence in urbanareas and have the highest risk for being victimsof homicide.

Misunderstanding andmisinterpreting behaviors have led totragic consequences, includinginappropriately placing minorities inthe criminal and juvenile justicesystems.

Statistics

StatisticsStatistics

Forty-Seven percent of low-income African-American youth have witnessed a murder and56% have witnessed a stabbing.

In a survey of urban elementary and high schoolstudents and almost half reported being directlyvictimized; 75% reported witnessing a robbery,stabbing shooting or homicide.

StatisticsStatistics

1,035 African Americans ages 10-19 weresurveyed; 75% witnessed a violent act and 46.5%had been a victim of violence.

In a study of children in Head Start, 57% of thestudent’s parents stated that their childwitnessed mild levels of violence and 8%witnessed severe levels of violence. However,when the students were surveyed, 37% reportedbeing a witness to severe violence.

Access To CareAccess To Care

According to the National Institute ofMental Health, these and other diversecommunities are underserved by thenation’s mental health system. One out ofthree African Americans who need mentalhealth care receives it. Compared to thegeneral population, African Americans aremore likely to stop treatment early and areless likely to receive follow-up care.

Barriers to Treatment

Barriers to Seeking Treatment

DenialEmbarrassment/shameDon’t want/refuse helpLack money/insuranceFearLack Knowledge oftreatment/problemHopelessness

Barriers to Seeking Treatment

Provider may not understand theculture

Don’t know where to go

Child care

Location/hours of service

Transportation

Symptoms are often masked withsubstance abuse or other medicalconditions.

Rely on our religious communities todeal with emotional problems.

Barriers to Seeking Treatment (continued)

Resistance to seekingmental health caresometimes comes from asense of loyalty to familymembers who have gone onbefore us.

Barriers to Seeking Treatment (continued)

Communities of color frequently seek help inprimary care, as opposed to mental healthspecialty care and often receive mentalhealth care in emergency rooms and inpsychiatric hospitals.

We are overrepresented in these settingspartly because we delay seeking treatmentuntil our symptoms are more severe.

Barriers to Seeking Treatment (continued)

Video Clip

“Moving BeyondSurvival Mode”

(Domestic Violence/Single Parenting)

Using Oral Communications toCounter Arguments

ORALImportant Info is passeddown through storiesReceiver can askquestions or challenge amessageSender gets immediatefeedback (verbally or non-verballyLet me know what youthink

Literate-Based• Important Info is passed

down through writing• Receiver has no

opportunitySender could have noidea how message isbeing received

“Take it or leave it”

Oral Communications (cont’d)Argument

I don’t need help. I’m fine.

I don’t want somebodyanalyzing me/getting intomy headI’ve got too much otherstuff in my life that is moreimportant

Counter-Argument• Even the strongest person

needs to lean onsomebody sometimes

• The answers are in you.A counselor can help youfind them.

• Isn’t your mentalwellness (keeping yourmind right) worth it?

Oral Communications (cont’d)If you really want a mental wellnessmessage to resonate with youraudience, it need to be both reflectand respect the culture, style andlanguage of that audience.

The most effective way to reflect andrespect an audience is to engage it indeveloping the message.

Oral Communications (cont’d)Argument

I don’t want my businessin the streetI don’t want to be labeledas “slow”, “weak”, “crazy”or having a problemI don’t want to beconsidered weak. Peopletake advantage of you.I can take a drink orsmoke some weed andmy problems won’t botherme

Counter-Argument• All mental health services

are confidential• I’m not going to judge you.

I’m here for you.• You don’t have to handle

everything on your own• Drop the weed and

alcohol and talk to someinstead

Oral Communications (cont’d)Argument

I don’t trust White people

Black people cantake/deal with almostanything. Look at whatwe’ve survived.I’m on top of my game

Counter-Argument• Not all mental wellness

professional are white.Overcoming trust issues isthe first step to goodtherapy.

• It’s time to break thecycle. We don’t have tokeep handling things thesame (negative) way.

• Even the toughest soldierneeds a shoulder to leanon.

Psychological ChallengesFacing Black Youths

Identity

Intimacy

Coping with Racism

Finding A Source ofStrength

Identity

In black communities, constant questions are:

How can I be powerful

Strong

Respected

In the world of other adults?

Respect is hugely important to the black communityand you should be aware of the seriousness of“dissing” someone.

Identity

Due to racism, many feel they do not get the respectthey felt they deserved or are unable to let theirguard down and “rest.”

Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., one of thenation's pre-eminent African-American scholars, wasarrested July 2009 at his home by Cambridge policeinvestigating a possible break-in.

Identity

All people have dreams. The problem in Americawhere there is a history of racism the question, iscan you find a pathway to that dream?

The black community is filled with broken dreams.Brothers on the corner had a dream

Brothers and sisters in jail had a dream once.

Somewhere those dreams got snuffed out.

We must empower communities of color to achievethose dreams.

Intimacy

From the cradle to the grave is the human need to beconnected and nurtured next to the mother’s heart.

When life’s end is near and the machine has flat lined,what do doctors tell you to do?

The human need for intimacy is satisfied in fourrelationships as persons of color moves through thelife cycle.

Intimacy

Extended Family

Male Peers

Special Romantic Relations

Mentors

Intimacy

The high amount of single parent homes makes itdifficult to nurture children into emotionally healthyadults.

In particular, male children need “HANDS ON” malementors for guidance.

If male guidance is not provided, it will be found ingangs or other means.

Effects of Racism

Negative Coping Behaviors

Self-medicating

Acting Out

Denial

Internalization

Finding Sources of Strength

There are seven AfricanAmerican psychologicalstrengths that have carried us400+ years in this foreignland:

Sources of Strength

Improvisation

Resilience

Connectedness to Others

Spirituality

Emotional Vitality

Gallows Sense of Humor

Healthy Suspicion of Persons Who Don’tLook Like Us

Video

Moving Beyond SurvivalMode:

Promoting PsychologicalStrengths and Protective Factors

Improvisation

When you live in a country which has a history of notgiving you an equal range of choices, you have toimprovise. You have to be imaginative, creative andinnovative .

Gladys Knight said it best with “I’ve got to use myimagination to make the best of a bad situation andkeep on keeping on!

With 10 people to feed and a stay at home Mother, sheknow improvisation!

Resilience

The ability to recover from a setback.

Most folks in the black community will not go from “0”– 70 without a setback. Failure and defeat is built in.

The question is can you get back up after a setback andkeep on keeping on?

The goal is to heal and become stronger in the “brokenplaces” (learning from the experience)

Spirituality/Soul Power

Belief that there is a life affirming force whichpermeates the universe that gives meaning andinspiration to all things.

Since slavery we always believed we would bedelivered. We’d walk around out churches withdrums beating shouting and crying but soon thosetears would turn to shouts of joy!

EMOTIONALWELLNESS

SPIRITUALWELLNESS

Spiritual Wellness &Emotional Wellness

A Greater Sense of Wellbeing

SPIRITUALWELLNESS

EMOTIONALWELLNESS

Emotional Vitality

Check out a dance club!

No matter how many bills are due,significant other has left you, orunemployment exists, dance istherapy!

Other Positive Outlets

Poetry

Rapping

Singing

Listening to Music

Journaling

Hair Dressing

Exercising

Sports

Gallows Sense Of Humor

You have to learn how to laugh and cry as you gothrough this life.

When you have experienced the worst tragedy youcould imagine and have cried your eyes out. Whenall the tears are gone, the only thing left to do is tolaugh say the heck with it and go about yourbusiness!

Langston Hughes

Jesse B. Semple

Community Education Department:

Aims to promote mental health, raise awareness andreduce the stigma of mental illness.Promoting Emotional Wellness and Spirituality

(PEWS) (Contact Laverne Williams @ ext. 130)

On-site presentations and workshops in thecommunity (Contact Emma Shelby @ ext. 113)

Mental Health Players (Contact Sharon Curran @ ext.125)

MHANJ Programs & Services973-571-4100

MHANJ Programs & Services973-571-4100

Workforce Development:Provides training and assistanceto consumers in the role of becomingsocial service providers. Also assistswith job referrals and placements.

(Contact Ray Cortese @ ext. 316)

Provides training and technicalassistance to mental healthproviders and agencies toexpand employmentopportunities for consumers.

(Contact Faith McCalla @ ext. 131)

Community Support Services:• Community Advocates:

Employs POST workers(Peer Outreach Support Team)trained through Consumer Connections program to providedirect support to consumers in the community.

Ocean County-Lakewood, NJ

Contact Michelle Green@ 732-905-1132

Hudson County-Jersey City, NJ

Contact Steve Rosenel @ 201-653-4700

Union County-Kenilworth, NJ

Contact Steve Rosenel @ 908-272-5189

Atlantic County-Absecon, NJ

Contact Jamie Angelini @ 609-272-1700

MHANJ Programs & Services

MHANJ Programs & Services

Community Support Services:

Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS):

Provides clinical support, education and advocacyservices to families of consumers with mentalillness both individually and through supportgroups.Union County-Kenilworth, NJ

Contact Joyce Benz @ 308-272-5309

Atlantic County-Absecon, NJ

Contact Christine Gromadzyn @ 609-272-1700

Community Support Services:• Self Help Centers: Provides resources,

socialization, and various support groups“Journey to Wellness”

– 575 North Main St., Barnegat, NJ, 1-888-698-8818

– Runs a peer to peer warm line and operates a “Wellness on Wheels”outreach vehicle

“Esperanza” (Hope)

– 361-363 Monroe Ave, Kenilworth, NJ, 908-272-5296

– Self Help Center for Spanish speaking consumers

“ICE” (Individuals in Concerned Effort)

– Moving to Pleasantville, NJ, 609-272-1700

MHANJ Programs & Services973-571-4100

MHANJ Programs & Services

A collaboration betweenMHANJ and IINJ to providetraining to mental healthproviders in northern NJ toassure access to culturally andlinguistically appropriateservices for our state’s diversecommunities.

Training(NJDRCC)

www.culturallycompetentmentalhealthnj.orgwww.njdrcc.org

NJ Disaster Response CrisisCounselor CertificationProgramWorking with NJDMHS andthe Certification Boardprovides training andcertification to mentalhealth professionals fordisaster work.

References

Office of the Surgeon General, United States Department of Health and HumanServices. Youth Violence a Report from the Surgeon General (2001)

Uehara, E., Chalmers, D., Jenkins, E. and Shakoor, B. 1996. ChildrenWitnessing Violence: Preliminary Results from the Community MentalHealth Council Screening Project. Journal of Black Studies 26: 768-781.

Buka, S. L., Stichick, T. L., Birdthistle, I., & Earls, F. J. (2001). Youthexposure to violence: Prevalence, risks, and consequences. AmericanJournal of Orthopsychiatry, 71, 298-310.

National Urban League Policy Institute

MEE’s (Motivational Education Entertainment) Audience ResearchPromoting Black Mental Wellness

Ariana Shahinfar, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, University ofNorth Carolina - Charlotte

The Mental Health Association in NJThe Mental Health Association in NJ

88 Pompton Avenue

Verona, New Jersey 07044

973-571-4100

Fax: 973-571-1777

Website: www.mhanj.org

Email: info@mhanj.org