Black Lives Matter & Impact on Mental Health
Following the murder of forty-six year old George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement has seen massive protests in support of the cause across the whole country, with demonstrations occurring in all fifty states. In Lancaster City, protestors have been rallying nearly every day to march along Chestnut Street, display advocative signs to passing Prince Street traffic, and dialogue with community leaders about ways to eradicate racism within the city.
And dialoguing is not specific to Lancaster: a myriad of different discussions about police brutality, systematic racism, and other conversations related to the experience of being black in America have flooded social media platforms across the world, and among them are discussions of black mental health. Those who are directly affected by instances of police brutality or other forms of racial violence (which is a large percentage, given that they are 2.5 times more likely to be killed in a police interaction than their white counterparts) are forced to not only experience these events, but also deal with the subsequent trauma-- and often without the help of mental health professionals. Research done by the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (also known as BEAM) shows that black people are seven times more likely to live in areas with limited access to mental health care. Additionally, there is a general shortage of black mental health providers within the psychology community, which means there are less providers available who might be able to properly treat and empathize with a victim of racial violence.
And even those who do not directly experience an act of police brutality or racial violence still endure a constant strain on their mental health. Licensed Professional Counselor Marquas Fountain, a counselor on staff at Sun Point, speaks to the significance of microtraumas and the strain of navigating certain every day activities like walking down the street or visiting a store. He emphasizes the detrimental impacts of gaslighting on those who attempt to speak about and bring awareness to their experiences. Hearing about and being exposed to news and social media content that pertains to those who have undergone an incidence of police brutality or racial violence can also serve as a grim reminder that this could happen to them or their loved ones.
So what can be done to care for mental health in the face of all these things? Ayana Therapy for Marginalized and Intersectional Communities outlines several measures to take, including seeking empowerment through protesting and other forms of activism, as well as checking in with loved ones. They put special emphasis on the importance of healing from this type of collective trauma as a community by being sure to stay connected with friends and family. Therapy for Black Girls, an extremely popular mental health podcast hosted by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, focuses on mental health for black women, and has several relevant and helpful episodes on their website detailing several different self-care tactics.
Mr. Fountain of Sun Point is also a big advocate of self-care as a means for dealing with racial trauma and microtraumas. He says that the constant flood of information from news stories and social media content, consistent gaslighting, everyday personal experiences, and the frustrating experience of having the movement’s message become less important than the messenger can lead to feelings of emotional numbness. He emphasizes the importance of taking moments to recharge and focus on personal self care, which will help one find a balance between feeling numb and feeling too much.
He suggests reaching out to local counselors that are available at places like the YMCA and right here at Sun Point Wellness, as well as seeking help from a faith advisor. Mr. Fountain himself is available for scheduling pro bono therapy sessions for those in need within the Lancaster community. He can be reached at marquas@sunpointwellness.com and will work with patients to set up eight to ten pro bono sessions as are needed. The links below can also be referred to for more information on the Black Lives Matter movement and resources regarding black mental health.
Article By: Zoe Lamonte
Featuring: Marquas Fountain - Board Certified Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor & Fully Trained EMDR Therapist
Resources:
https://therapyforblackgirls.com/
https://www.beam.community/tool-kits-education
https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/developing-a-self-care-plan
https://www.allure.com/story/black-therapists-self-care-techniques-instagram