The Conversation of Mental Illness and Racial Stigma
When it comes to mental health, we are often inclined to think about aspects such as navigating or managing stress, anxiety, depression, and preventing burnout –– especially as college students. These aspects of mental health are all extremely important and should continue to be talked about, with the extension of including the not-so-talked-about aspects of mental illness. This would include raising awareness of disorders such as Bipolar disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dissociative Disorders, Personality Disorders, and so forth. These are all aspects of mental health that are often misrepresented within the media, causing people to have a skewed perception of the reality of what it is like to live with any of these disorders. It’s important to bring these disorders awareness because it aids in erasing the stigma that is often accompanied with them. Not only this, but there may be someone you know who is living with any of these disorders and may not feel as though they are able to talk about it because of the stigmatization that they may receive.
Along with these disorders, comes the issue of racially marginalized students who are struggling with their mental health, who may not have access to proper psychological care (therapy, etc) as it may not be something that is taken seriously within their homes, or they may struggle with their own internal stigma surrounding mental health becuase of the cultural narrative they were raised in. As someone who is Latinx, mental health –– especially when it comes to discussions of therapy, medication, and intervention –– is not something that tends to be taken seriously, or there is not a safe space to be able to talk about mental health without risking feelings weak or minimized in our ability to cope, function, etc.
It is important to create conversations and awareness for students of color who are strugglilng with their mental health, to feel safe enough to be able to talk about their struggles with open arms. Just as, it is important to raise awareness for the less talked about, ‘taboo’ topics of mental illnsess(es), as it is much more relevant than one may think, and it may be something that someone we know lives with. We should continue to raise awareness in order to reduce the stigma that surrounds POC mental health and mental illness, and seeking treatment, as everyone deserves to be able to recieve the help that they need, without feeling less than or guilty for asking for help. Especially in this stage in our lives where we are college students, where academia can exacerbate our mental health, and where academia often times makes those who struggle with mental health / illness and POC, feel as though we cannot succeed, or do not belong. We do, We can. You can. And you deserve to have a voice, to be heard.
Resources on Campus:
https://www.activeminds.org/chapter/boston-university/