How years of oppression can affect the mental health of African Americans | Urban Girl Mag
"Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors." - Mayo Clinic
mental health, black people and mental health, african americans and mental health, black history
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How years of oppression can affect the mental health of African Americans

“Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.” – Mayo Clinic
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Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. A mental health concern becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and affect your ability to function.
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A mental illness can make you miserable and can cause problems in your daily life, such as at school, work, or in your relationships. In most cases, symptoms can be managed with a combination of medications and talk therapy (psychotherapy).
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This has been a personal challenge for me as well as many others I’ve come to know. In our urban communities people are hustling, bustling  and doing what they do the best way they know how. Years of oppression have done a number on our mental health as a whole; being passed on from generation to generation.
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Speaking only for myself, “I’ve asked why me?” And, “Am I going crazy? “
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Here’s a question to consider, is it the end for those who haven’t yet found a coping tool that fits them? I pray not!
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So, what can we do as a people?
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Here is an interesting article posted by  National Alliance on Mental Illness. I came across it while doing my usual research about the changes happening in my own life and felt compelled to share it. Yes, the subject of mental health can be complex, and you may or may not feel as though it pertains to you; however, I promise this article can help with that.
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One of the points made in the article “According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African Americans are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population.” Some common mental health conditions African Americans experience at a higher rate include ‘major depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Suicide, and Posttraumatic stress disorder’.
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Getting educated by sources you can trust to give you the real deal can make a significant difference in our lives. I hope you enjoy the article and the video attached. My therapist and I are making strides and it sorta feels good to be working out all the heavy baggage containing pain, anger, resentment, confusion and all sorts of other emotions. Nowadays, my heart is light, my faith is tight, and my future is bright. As we are all works in progress, I still have lots to learn and further to go spiritually.
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What are some of your concerns regarding mental health in our community?
You CAN find ways to cope and manage.
WE CAN FIND THOSE WAYS TOGETHER!
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Kashinda Marche
Kashinda.kreations@gmail.com

Kashinda Marche, is a Newark, NJ native, mother of rising actress Asia E. Marche, a 2021 TEDx Speaker, community advocate, and a published author. Her diverse course studies obtained from the UNC School of Social Work and Magellan Healthcare as a State-Certified Peer Support Specialist include digital peer support, wellness-informed peer support, engaging families as healthcare partners, and the ethics of peer support. Despite losing her ability to walk, living life with multiple chronic illnesses including HIV, and surviving four brain surgeries, she feels called to be a helpful resource to communities around the world. She has facilitated countless virtual workshops and served as a self-esteem mentor to the Empowering Steppers, a school-aged female step team in Raleigh, NC. Kashinda demonstrates community and collaboration and has dedicated herself to joining collective efforts of empowering, educating, and uplifting our Black and brown communities. Also, in 2021 Kashinda was featured on Voices for Change, a Spectrum News 1 segment. And in 2020, she was recognized as extending hope to women in need by MonarchNC, an organization committed to supporting, educating, and empowering people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. Kashinda thanks her family and loads of friends and supporters worldwide for their love and encouragement. She serves to pay it forward by helping others believe in themselves and their ability to heal their inner selves.

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