Taraji P. Henson, mental health advocate, discusses the barriers to mental health treatment in the Black community including misdiagnosis and lack of Black therapists. They also explore breaking stigmas and promoting therapy. Grammy Award-winning artist Miguel talks about his new EP and mental health advocacy.
There is a stigma around therapy within the black community, leading to a lack of access to mental health treatment.
Increasing diversity within the mental health profession is crucial to overcome the scarcity of African-American therapists and provide culturally competent care.
Deep dives
The Impact of Stigmatizing Therapy in the Black Community
The podcast episode discusses the stigma around therapy within the black community. It highlights how mental health treatment is often seen as shameful or a 'white people thing,' leading to a lack of access to therapy for black individuals. The episode emphasizes the importance of normalizing conversations around mental health and breaking through the stigma to encourage seeking help. It also showcases the efforts of Taraji P. Henson's foundation, which provides free virtual therapy sessions for underserved communities.
Challenges of Finding Culturally Competent Therapists for Black Individuals
The podcast explores the difficulty that black individuals face in finding therapists who understand their unique experiences and can provide culturally competent care. It highlights the scarcity of African-American therapists and the misdiagnosis of mental health issues in black communities. The episode reinforces the importance of increasing diversity within the mental health profession to address these challenges and ensures that black individuals can receive appropriate and effective treatment.
Making Therapy More Accessible and Engaging for the Black Community
The podcast suggests making therapy more appealing and relatable to the black community by incorporating elements of black church culture. It emphasizes the need to create a safe and fun atmosphere that reflects the community's trust and provides a comfortable space for individuals to address their mental health concerns. The episode encourages combining the benefits of community support in church settings with one-on-one mental health care through therapy to promote overall well-being and encourage black individuals to seek help.
Trevor looks at the ways Black people are kept from therapy by racial inequalities in diagnosing mental illness, a lack of Black therapists and stigma from within the Black community. Trevor also sits with mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson, who talks about her charitable initiative providing free virtual therapy sessions for underserved communities, and musical artists Big Sean and Miguel offer insights into their own mental health struggles.