(ThyBlackMan.com) Mental illness is a silent assassin in the black community that we can not continue to ignore. As a community the conversations are finally starting to happen. More black people are willing to consider their mental state as we come to terms with the traumas many of us have experienced. As more information is accessible black people are being encouraged to speak on pain and suffering verses suppressing their feelings. Many are coming to terms with PTSD, anxiety disorder and deep depression among other diagnosis. We are learning that it doesn’t make us weak if we decide to seek therapy for the issues we are battling with in life. Granted some may still feel they will work within their family and spiritual support systems which is fine, but they know they are not crazy if they need to step outside that circle.
Sometimes therapy is not about dealing with mental illness but preventing such. America’s climate has always been dangerous for black people. Many were having experiences of racism and brutality in every place in this country. We read history books and heard 
stories about the way our people had been treated, and parents have always had to have “the talk” regarding the police. It was safe to assume this was happening everywhere, or maybe it was mentally better to assume it if I just move I won’t experience American terrorism. Sometimes the issues could be out of site and mind if only for a small time. Some of us were even convinced maybe he had entered a post-racial society.
Social media would destroy the illusions too many of our people created that were a far cry from reality. Now we are able to look at social media and make the argument that there is no place in this country we can go whereby the issue of race is not a problem. Many of us have watched on Facebook as our people are beaten and murdered by police in real time. We watched them die. We watched their loved ones scream, we say no regard for our children. It makes the history books too real. Those that were jades are being forced into an understanding that we are in a sense under attack.
Living in fear when you leave your home or see a police officer can cause the mental illness you never had. Some of our people go into panic attacks when they are pulled over. Some of them are reconsidering where they should buy a home because they don’t want to be attacked nor tormented by their neighbors. Granted we have issues we must deal with amongst ourselves, but racism is terrifying for us in a completely different way.
With all the information flowing sometimes it’s important to turn it off, and detox from social media so that you don’t literally lose your mind. It is important to talk about how you feel in this climate verses suppressing that fear. If you have children and you fear for your child’s life you need to be able to speak your truth on that matter. Talking to a therapist, or your spiritual counselor and taking proactive steps to maintain mental health is wise. There is so much going on around us whereby it is mandatory that we prevent mental illness in every way we can.
Staff Writer; Chelle’ St James
May also connect with this sister via Twitter; ChelleStJames.
