An intimate group of faculty, staff and students gathered in a classroom of the Aeronautics and Technology Building on Feb. 27, for an insightful conversation about the aspects of mental health with a special focus on the Black community.
The Bypassing the Barriers to Mental Health event was led by Janice Johnson, mental health provider with a focus on black, indigenous and other people of color in Kent State University’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Johnson has been a licensed therapist for 10 years.
She opened the conversation through a presentation that provided thought-provoking questions and educational statements about mental health. During the discussion, Johnson shared thoughts informed by her professional experience.
“Mental health includes our emotional, physical, psychological and social well-being and impacts how we think, feel and behave,” Johnson shared to start the presentation.
Attendees immediately raised their hands to take part in the conversation. Opinions, feelings and thoughts were welcomed, and the group created an environment for everyone to share.
“Mental health is something all humans have, and it will always change throughout life. That's just the ebb and flow of the human experience.” Johnson said.
Johnson started the next conversation about how physical health is talked about more, and how many people do not have the language to talk about mental health. Culture, gender, generation and education can all affect someone’s view and interpretation of mental health.
“Mental health can impact all facets of your life. There is not one driving factor of mental health issues,” Johnson said. “And it is not a personality flaw or a weakness.”
Johnson asked the attendees a few questions to get conversation flowing, and to gauge the thoughts and opinions of everyone in the room:
- What have been the stigmas you’ve heard about mental health?
- What has been some misinformation you’ve heard about mental health?
- Why do you think these stigmas exist in our community?
Attendees were highly engaged in conversations about how the Black community regards mental health. Johnson addressed the historical challenges surrounding mental health within the African American community and ways we can break down barriers and stigmas around mental health while prioritizing mental well-being.
She provided personal examples of racial influence on mental health and demonstrated the consistent need to balance cultural expectations by people within the Black community and outside of it.
Johnson referred to code-switching, the process of switching your language or dialect based on who a person is with, and many nodded and shared their own stories about how racism affects their mental health in different ways.
A few attendees shared the expectations of consistent resiliency in their diverse cultures. The conversation was both deep-rooted and relieving for the group. A few people shared personal stories and welcomed others to do the same.
As the discussion came to a close, Johnson left the room with a few tips about discussing mental health in any community:
- Educate yourselves and others on facts.
- Talk openly about mental health, as you would physical health.
- Listen with intention and respect, show kindness and encouragement.
“If we’re not showing kindness and respect, how do they get the help they need?” Johnson asked.