Blacks Avoid Psychotherapy
African Americans share the same mental health issues as the rest of the population, with arguably greater sensitivity to racism, prejudice, and economic disparities.
Many wonder why blacks shy away from psychotherapy for questions of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, marriage problems, and parenting issues.
Even among the wealthy and elite, many blacks have stigmatizing beliefs about mental illness.
In a study over a third felt that mild depression or anxiety would be considered crazy in their social circles.
Talking about problems with an outsider may be seen as airing dirty laundry. Many felt discussions about mental illness would not be appropriate, even among members of their family.
Blacks may be resistant to seek treatment because they fear it could reflect badly on their families, an outward admission of the family failure to handle internal problems.
Even among blacks who suffer from mental disorders, many held negative attitudes, connotations about who gets mental health care. No matter how impaired, they didn't want to be one of those people.
Because of the taboo about mental illness, blacks often have limited scope of mental health issues and corresponding treatment.
Apprehension about clashing values or differing worldviews of the clinician can cause mixed feelings about finding help. This can be especially true for many who believe that mental health treatment was designed by white people for white people.
Anxiety about therapy can be related to limited knowledge about what to expect from the treatment itself. Many blacks with mental disorders have fear about being involuntarily hospitalized, unwilling to share their symptoms for fear of being locked up or put away.
The troublesome reality suggests despite struggling for years with a mental disorder, many are reluctant to take the time for themselves to get better.
By increasing the cultural competence and social awareness of all clinicians, the mental health system can begin to shed its bias against ethnic minorities.
in Colorblind
Psychology Today
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