Changing Attitudes About Black Mental Health

ignore you and pull away from you (but try not to nag them, that’s annoying). Show them that they are loved, even when they don’t love themselves.

If you are battling a mental health condition, know your warning signs and triggers, make a care plan, and seek quality care as soon as the symptoms and signs are recognized.

Each condition has its own symptoms, but some common warning signs can include:

Excessive worrying or fear
Feeling excessively sad or low
Extreme mood changes
Avoiding friends and social activities
Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
Changes in eating habits (increased hunger or lack of appetite)
Overuse of substances (alcohol or drugs)
Inability to carry out daily activities
Thinking about suicide

Closing

I know this topic is heavy, but this topic has been brushed under the rug and ignored too many times. If you know someone in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Be on the lookout for more articles from “SPEAK UP!” interns. If you are or know of any Black college-aged and enrolled women interested in advocating against tobacco cessation on HBCU campuses, please visit Save a Girl, Save the World (SAGSAW) for more information.

Resources

Here are a few resources for more information on Black Mental Health:

Aravia Patterson, MPH, is a 26-year-old intern with SAGSAW/SPEAK Up! She is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Louisville studying Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences.