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.
