Mental Illness: The Dehumanization Of African Americans

Introduction
Years of discrimination & prejudice have normalized the suffering of black people in America, leading to a distrust of institutions of mental health and health in general. The insidious belief that black people are somehow immune to mental illness and that religion is the almighty remedy comes from a history of dehumanization by the scientific community, society, and the media. These channels not only create stereotypes, but also enforce them to the point that these are the only acceptable ways of living, hence the racist tropes of the “Strong Black Woman” and the “happy darky,” etc. Maleficent societal forces are epitomized in the unholy trinity: God, Blackness, and Mental Illness (“Black Folks and Mental Illness: Why Do We Suffer
“African Americans of all ages are more likely to be the victims of serious violent crime than non-Hispanic whites (“African American Communities and Mental Health”). Frequent violence is a direct cause of PTSD, one of the most prevalent mental illnesses in the black community, second only to depression (“African American Communities and Mental Health”). Due to the lack of understanding of mental illness and a similarly destitute lack of treatment options, African Americans are left to do what they do best—cope in the best way
In the black community “talking about problems with an outsider is viewed as airing out “dirty laundry” and this, combined with the unwillingness to be further stigmatized alienates the patient from their sympathetic community and “others” them (“Why African Americans Avoid Psychotherapy”). Healthcare providers who are insensitive to Black cultural experiences may “normalize what may be a traumatic reaction,” even while the patients themselves realize something is wrong (Black Folks and Mental Health: Why Do We Suffer in Silence?”). With an already reluctant population—“63% of African Americans believe that [mental illness] is a personal weakness” which is significantly higher than the average of 54% (“African American Communities and Mental Health”)—this only poses as another barrier to treatment. Those who’ve ascended the socio-economic and professional ladder “in the face of institutionalized racism struggle with feeling compelled to be strong” and become so socially isolated that they feel they must face their struggles alone (Black Folks and Mental Health: Why Do We Suffer in Silence?”). This may also lead to misdiagnoses and negligence, as