Depression In African America Essay

Unit 2 Assignment: Diagnostic Writer’s Response Whether it is a little or a lot, everyone experiences stress at some point. Stress does not always have a negative effect, most of the time the effects can be positive. On the other hand stress is associated with the development of most major mental health problems such as depression, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and pathological aging (Marin, 2011). It has also been linked to all leading physical causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke (Cohen, Janicki-Deverts, & Miller, 2007).

Throughout the nation and our world people are suffering from this disease. Depression effects people of both genders, all ages, and any background. The history of mental illness, specifically depression were extremely helpful in today’s treatment and diagnosis. We know that all individuals are different and because of this, we can assume that each case of mental illness, more specifically depression, is unique in its own way as well. One treatment that is very effective for one person may not be equally as effective in a similar case simply because of the differences in patients.

I am an African American female whom is a descendent from the African Slave and a native American refugee. My culture runs deep in my veins and I am a product of the strength of my mother and father. While growing up I understood we were on the poverty line. My family lived in a small home with 3 bedrooms and occupied 7 people. I grew up in a small southeast Georgian town named Statesboro. You may know of Statesboro if you listen to the Blues. A famous blues man by the name of Blind Willie Mctell wrote a song called Statesboro blues about his beloved home town. Statesboro is a small town where the color lines are divided. Although things have changed along the years, some tension still exist.

Peter Schroeder Dr. Christopher Marshall Modern United States History 2/2/17 Writing Assignment 1: The African-American Experience with Reconstruction Reconstruction among the south refers to the point in time which the United States was attempting to establish a relationship between the union and the rebels. The Union had won the civil war, so the next step was to begin to mend the broken relationship between the north and the south. Though historians cannot agree on when it began, there is merit in saying that it started before the end of the Civil War. After victory, had been solidified for the Union, attention of President Lincoln turned towards reconstruction.

The image of the “strong Black woman” dissuades Black women to show weakness, while also adding to a cultural stigma regarding mental illness (Beauboeuf-Lafontant, 2008). The social stigma attached to seeking professional help not only affects the individual but the family as well. Some researchers suggest that traditional gender roles influence professional help seeking by affecting the level of concern a woman has about seeking help in the first place (Vogel, Wester, and Larson,

Scientists do not know how stress, something that seems so miniscule, can put one in a life or death situation. Stress and tension can ultimately affect one’s physical and mental health over time based on examples from Jekyll and Hyde, multiple experiments, and

MENTAL HEALTH: BLACK COMMUNITY Mental Health in the Black community has rapidly grown overtime. 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. (Mental Health American p. 3) Mental health disorder is popular in the Black community. Which can include: depression, ADHD and PTSD, which usually stem from either a violent past or background.

Post Civil War, African Americans started to gain rights to gain rights, and soon gain rights equal to whites. While there were some people/things standing in their way (KKK, Black Codes), in the end they got what they needed; Equality. Many acts and laws were passed to aid the new rights now held by African Americans, as well as the numerous people willing to help.

Mental Health is a tough topic to talk about but for the African American Community; the concept of mental illness or overall mental health is swept up under the rug. The African American community is not informed and misunderstands mental health and illnesses, but why? In other communities of people mental health and all of its aspects are accepted but for my community of people it's something that is not openly discussed and looked down upon.

The Fight Against Colorism in African American Communities Colorism is defined as a practice of discrimination among African Americans against other African Americans because of their skin complexion, for instance being too light or too dark. Colorism plays a large role in the low self-esteem in the African American community, from individuals, relationships, and employment. Colorism can cause psychological effects. Children are more affected because skin biased develops at a younger age.

I. Depression among cultures and ethnicities can differ not only on its triggers but also on its treatment preferences; several factors are being analyzed to compare how this mental disorder is affecting Hispanic communities, particularly those of Mexican origin, in the US. A. Key Points 1. Lack of education regarding depressive disorders and their treatment options. 2.

Black people have many disadvantages stemming from multiple sources such as, slavery, race-based exclusion, lack of education, social and economic resources, amongst other things. Socioeconomic status is linked to mental health. People who are impoverished, homeless, incarcerated or have substance abuse problems are at higher risk for poor mental health. Racism still continues to have a negative impact on black people, especially the mental health of blacks. Historically and contemporary occurrences of antagonistic treatment led to a distrust of authorities. Some of these authorities do not have black people’s best interest in mind.

Slavery Slavery was a life changing, horrific, and difficult time for the African Americans. They went through several trials daily. They came to America in 1619. Slavery became popular in the American colonies during the 18th century when slavery began to become well known and taken for granted. Slaves worked on tobacco,rice,cotton, and indigo plantations.

The African-American race will never be fully relieved from the emotional pain that was instilled in them over hundreds of years of oppression and inequity. Slavery was a horrendous institution that was full of equally horrendous acts committed against African-American slaves on a daily basis. These acts are the basis of the psychological scar on African Americans. When a race or group of people is forced to endure suffering on the level which slaves experienced during slavery, the memory is not so easily forgotten. It sticks with them, leaving them, and their ancestors, with the burden of this mistreatment. This burden can take form in many ways, primarily distrust (of the perpetrators of the mistreatment), anger, and sorrow. Each of these

On the other hand a lot of stress can backfire completely and can be a horrible thing for you. Too much stress can even cause health problems for you. According to Mayo Clinic stress can affect your physical health as well as your mental health. For physical health it can cause head and stomach aches, sleep problems, chest pain and even a change in your se drive. Stress can also affect your behavior, it can cause your to have anger outburst, social withdrawal and might even cause you to turn to drugs and alcohol.