(ThyBlackMan.com) What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or seeing a terrifying event. “PTSD may be more disabling for minorities; for example, African Americans with PTSD experience significantly more impairment at work and carrying out everyday activities”. -Joseph A. Himle professor & researcher of University Michigan
#Saytherename
Travon Martin
Mike Brown
Tamir Rice
Kevin Matthews
Sandra Bland
Freddie Gray
Eric Garner
Paul O’Neal
Keith Scott
Terrance Crutcher
Alton Sterling
Philando Castile
The list goes on and continues to grow at alarming rate each and every day. We are reminded of their names through social media; the most powerful tool of today. Live feeds can be stream and watched live and on demand. This phenomenon and new age 
technology isn’t uncovering anything new in the black community however it is making the horrific scene of another black man or woman being killed more visible and accessible.
Dr. Jonathan Kanter professor of psychology at the University of Washington states, “We see the videos and we are authentically horrified and saddened by what we see. But many of us have the ultimate privilege of changing the channel, clicking on another Facebook post. We can make it go away if we choose and the horror of the scene is quickly forgotten. We can leave it behind and go about our day. And most white people don’t attune to just how different an experience it is for black people.”
History
Killings through lynching’s, hangings, gun violence and the list goes on is trauma enough. It is also the building foundation for the new trauma to lie on. It started with kidnapping black people from their native country to how the police patrol and rule with their weapons today to gain control. Associate professor of psychology at the University of Connecticut, Monicca Williams states“…Jim Crow laws, segregated communities, police brutality during the fight for civil rights – historical trauma. There is also the experience of ongoing discrimination at the individual level that leads to daily stress and contributes to early death from ailments like cardiovascular disease. On top of this we have community trauma that includes racial profiling and, now, police murders caught on tape and broadcast on social media — where often nothing happens to the killers. The trauma is real, and it is cumulative.”
(Untreated) Mental Illness
“Keep our business in this house” and “Don’t go running your mouth about what’s going on in this house”. Just some of the phrases some African American families are used to and may still live by. Black families generally do not go and voluntarily get assistance with their mental health concerns. Nor do we talk about what’s wrong.
According to Mental Health American, “Black/African Americans of all ages are more likely to be victims of serious violent crime than are non-Hispanic whites, making them more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Black/African Americans are also twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with schizophrenia.” Historically, communities of color experience unique and considerable challenges in accessing mental health services as well. With untreated mental illness in conjunction with PTSD trauma from viral videos and images of dead black bodies creates another leg of issues.
These are just a preview of what the black community deals with on a regular basis. However, our mental health needs to be as intact as possible to endure the current state of Black America. Like most mental illnesses there is no cure. But, how do you cure police brutality, racism, inequality and even embedded history?
Are you or someone you know suffering from PTSD or mental illness? Please contact SAMHSA( Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Treatment Referral National Helpline at 1 877 726 4727 FREE of charge.
Staff Writer; Amber Ogden
One may also view more of her work over at; AmberOgden.com.
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