Patrice Harris, MD, a psychiatrist and Everyday Health’s medical editor in chief at large, examines the stigma associated with mental illness, mistrust of the healthcare system, and other factors that have prevented Black Americans from receiving appropriate treatment in the past, and looks at how to make mental health as important as physical health. Learn more in Nursing Research. Learn more at The Commonwealth Fund. RELATED: #BlackHealthFacts Resource Center Still, Harris insists you can find the right fit in a mental health professional — it may just require a little work. “Talk to or interview several, and make sure they understand your needs. Make sure they are comfortable with addressing any issues regarding race and racism in this country. The key is to ask questions. You may not find the perfect fit or a good fit on your first try. Keep trying.” Learn more via the American Psychiatric Association and American Psychological Association. “In addition to COVID-19, we’ve had a season of political unrest, police brutality, trauma. We’ve seen reports of increased anxiety, and increased sad and depressed moods,” says Harris. “The question is, what can we do to take care of ourselves? We want to make sure that we prioritize ourselves and we practice self-care.” Learn more in JAMA Network Open. RELATED: What Is Self-Care and Why Is It So Important for Your Health? “As Black women, we have to take off that mantle of being the strong Black woman and make sure that we participate and prioritize self-care,” Harris says. “We have to make sure that we do all that we can to take care of our physical health, as well as our mental health. And that includes seeking therapy, if you need it, or support from friends and family.” Learn more in Research in Nursing and Health and JAMA Psychiatry. Learn more at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
