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#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – #SuicideRates Are Rising Among #BlackYouth. How Advocates Are Trying To Break The #Stigma Around #MentalHealth
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Data shows #BlackAmericans are less likely to seek out #mentalhealth help. Advocates say it’s vital to address the #stigma around reaching out for help
The impact of #racial unrest over the past few years has taken a significant #mentalhealth toll, especially on the #Blackcommunity.
Data from the #AmericanMedicalAssociation shows #suicide rates have sharply increased, especially among young #Black people.
In the past two decades, #suicideattempts for #Black #males between 12 and 18 have increased by 79.7% making #Black #children and #teens almost twice as likely to die by #suicide than #white #children, according to the Journal of the #AmericanMedicalAssociation.
And it’s not just #children at risk. Data shows the #suicide rate for #Black #adults increased by 30% between 2014 and 2019.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
However, data shows #BlackAmericans are also less likely to seek out #mentalhealth help. Advocates say it’s vital to address the #stigma around reaching out for help.
‘Your ancestors dealt with worse’
When Richard Taylor was 10 years old, he attempted to cut fat off of his body with a knife.
“I was like, what, maybe if I could just cut some of the fat off of my body, like it would help me it would change, you know, my physical appearance to where my peers wouldn’t bully me anymore,” said Taylor.
When his #parents came home, Taylor said they didn’t understand the severity of how he was feeling.
“It was minimized. It was shut down from the standpoint of, ‘you’re too young to be dealing with this’ right, or, you know, ‘your ancestors dealt with worse’,” said Taylor- now a motivational speaker and author.
As Taylor grew up, outwardly he appeared to grow out of some of his problems.
“I was a standout quarterback in the city of Chicago playing football. Scholarship offers galore,” said Taylor. “Every time I felt, you know, an immense amount of mental or emotional turmoil, like, you know, I even that out with some kind of physical pain.”
Ten years later, Taylor’s emotional pain led him to turn to self-harm again.
“That day, I just kind of was at my wit’s end. That led me to a decision to take a blade down my wrist five times,” said Taylor.
Now the word “love” is tattooed over the scar.
Protests over #racial inequality and #PTSD
Omari Salisbury understands how easy it can be for a person to get to a breaking point with their #mentalhealth.
During the summer of 2020, Salisbury, the owner of Converge Media, was on the ground in nearly every #Seattle protest following the murder of #GeorgeFloyd.
He witnessed the unrest, the attacks and the violence firsthand. Salisbury was covering protestors on I-5 when a car drove straight into the group.
“I remember it vividly, a car entering the empty freeway, going around the barricaded cars, ran right into a group of protestors, killing Summer Taylor and critically injuring Diaz Love,” said Salisbury.
The #trauma of that scene combined with months of social unrest pushed Salisbury to his mental limits.
Salisbury made a difficult decision, in order to take care of his #mentalhealth, he stepped away from covering the protests to focus on himself and his community.
“So many people walk around with so much pain and so much #trauma and so much hurt,” Salisbury said. “Let me help you connect the dots. Let me do my part … that’s what I wanna do.”
#BlackAmericans less likely to seek help
#BlackAmericans experience #mentalhealthissues at a rate similar to their #white counterparts, but according to the #AmericanPsychologicalAssociation (#APA), they are less likely to seek help.
“[Help] is often thought of as actually being a weakness,” said Dr. Devin Byrd, a trained #psychologist, and president of Bastyr University. “#Black #men, historically … there’s been a lot of pressure in terms of presenting oneself as being strong and not needing outside help or assistance.”
Taylor said it was an attitude that, growing up, applied to everyone.
“A lot of times, it wasn’t discussed, you know, we could just simply say, oh, ‘that’s just crazy Uncle Billy over there’, right, but not realizing that crazy Uncle Billy, like really needs help, right?” Taylor said.
Another barrier to seeking help is a lack of representation. Eighty-four percent of #psychologists are white. Four percent are #Black, according to the APA.
“We need more #therapists of color. We need more individuals who are able to resonate with and understand the experiences of #communitiesofcolor,” said Byrd.
“My father and I have a phenomenal relationship. But like, he didn’t really understand it,” said Taylor.
After Taylor’s last #suicideattempt in his dorm room, he was able to get into therapy.
Through his work, he says he hopes to shatter the #stigma around #mentalhealthtreatment that is crushing so many #Black families in silence.
“We have so many of us living in silence. And unfortunately, if we live in silence for too long, we can make a decision to where we’re not here anymore.” Taylor said.
Free and subsidized #mentalhealthresources:
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective: “Our #therapists provide affordable, in-office and online psychotherapy sessions between $30 and $60 (between $30 and $80 for couples & family sessions)
4. WA #Counselors of Color Network: The Washington #Counselors of Color Network serves an array of #ethnic clients needing counseling and therapy from providers who understand the specific needs of #peopleofcolor and various cultures.
5. Therapy for #Black #Girls: Therapy for #Black #Girls is an online space dedicated to encouraging the #mentalwellness of #Black #women and #girls.
6. Therapy Fund Foundation: Empowering #peopleofcolor through #mentalhealtheducation and radical #self-care.
7. Beam: A collective of advocates, yoga #teachers, artists, #therapists, #lawyers, #religious leaders, #teachers, #psychologists and activists committed to the emotional/#mentalhealth and healing of #Blackcommunities.
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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