Nadia Snopek/Shutterstock.com
May 05, 2024 Story by: Editor
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Seeking help for mental health can be particularly challenging within Black and African American communities. Research indicates that many Black adults, especially from older generations, often perceive mental health issues as a personal failing.
Nyasha Poitier, a licensed mental health counselor and owner of The Art of Healing Jacksonville, attributes this to historical factors.
“There has been a lot of perseverance and resilience for African-Americans, and so I think for African-Americans ourselves we’ve kind of leaned on that,” Poitier said.
Statistics reveal that Black adults are 20% more likely to suffer from serious mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. However, only 25% of African Americans seek mental health treatment, compared to 40% of white Americans.
“I do a lot of work in the African American community and over the past decade or so, it’s kind of been a reoccurring theme of just lack of awareness regarding what mental health is, as well as not feeling safe or that they can trust providers with the totality of who they are. We have experienced so much prejudice, racism, system issues,” Poitier explained.
Nationally, there is a small percentage of mental health professionals who identify as Black. Poitier emphasizes that representation is crucial for Black individuals seeking counseling.
She shared that having a mentor who looked like her was pivotal during her journey to becoming a licensed mental health counselor.
Despite these challenges, Poitier encourages people not to be dissuaded from pursuing careers in mental health or seeking help. Instead, she advises asking questions to find the right support.
“Have you worked with individuals who looked like me before? What is your cultural competence training? What does that look like?” Poitier recommended. Source: News4JAX
By addressing these issues, Poitier aims to bridge the gap between mental health services and African American communities.
For more information, visit: The Art of Healing Jacksonville’s website.
