MovieChat Forums > Insecure (2016) Discussion > Is mental health/therapy stigmatized in ...

Is mental health/therapy stigmatized in the black community?

posted 8 years ago by mussobrennon
8 replies | jump to latest

Obviously there's still a lot of stigma surrounding mental health issues everywhere, but to me it was pretty surprising to see someone get so offended at being told they may need therapy in this day and age. Is this something that's even more stigmatized in the black community than others, and is that the story they are going for? On another board someone mentioned something about their mother being the same way, but I wasn't sure if that meant it was a black thing, or just an older Christian thing.

[–] ChocolateButt 8 years ago

I can only speak for my community in my part of the world, but yes, it is still stigmatized. I know a lot of older, more religious relatives tend to treat mental illness as something that can be prayed away. Schizophrenia is basically just demonic possession in their eyes.

And that thinking filters down, so even the young'uns hesitate to call a spade a spade.

"What race are you? If you don't tell me I'll just...assume the worst."

[–] emiynu 8 years ago

I literally JUST SAID THIS in my last board post. The answer is yes.

You got another reply to your thread, congrats. MOST BLACK people feel this way. I remember when they ripped Oprah a new one when she had an episode about therapy.

[–] mussobrennon 8 years ago

Yeah, I had read your post after posting this one.

[–] activista 8 years ago

@emiynu

That's not the case for all black people in the U.S.,btw. People in my immediate family have gotten therapy----that used to be the case---it was basically thought of as something only white people had the luxury of affording/doing. And you can't say MOST black people feel that way because you don't know and haven't met all black people. For all you know, a black person close to you might be getting therapy and you don't know it because they're never told you. The thing is, black people's mental health was never considered a priority for the longest time---but the reality is, black people are human, we have issues and we need help with our mental health issues just like anybody else---especially since it's been proven that dealing with racism and discrimination on a daily basis can stress someone the hell out more than the average person. Therapy is also stigmatized in the Arab-American communities too, but I'm sure folks in them go see shrinks privately whenever they have issues to deal with, too.

Also, black Americans are not one big monolith that agrees on everything---we are all not the same and do not have the same exact beliefs, politics or opinions just because we share the same skin color and the same culture. Tired of people saying that ALL black people do or don't do this or that, since you would only know that if you took a survey of some kind. That being said, I loved AWKWARD BLACK GIRL (I could relate to it a hell of a lot, which is why it had me cracking up half the time I watched it) and would love to see INSECURE once it hits DVD (don't have cable) especially because the trailers for it (which have been shown on national TV, yay!) definitely came off as funny.

[–] activexcode 8 years ago

It's also stigmatized in the Korean community.

[–] s-s-s 8 years ago

I sort of saw Molly mentioning that their old RA was going to therapy as a way to open a convo about mental health with Issa. There is a general stigma in the U.S., but I can't speak to the black community. I feel like it's something that advocates are trying more and more to destigmatize, but it will take time. People going to therapy makes many uncomfortable, while simultaneously serving as a status symbol at times because therapy can be costly.

I think Molly wanted to mention it because it secretly appealed to her, but trashed it first as a defense mechanism because she couldn't gauge what Issa's reaction would be. Had Issa said she thought therapy was probably helpful for their old friend and not something to laugh at, Molly could take that perspective and reflect on it with no judgment. However, Issa went straight to "you might need therapy" and wasn't very subtle, making Molly feel alienated and targeted.

[–] RidiculousPasta 8 years ago

There's no such thing as the "black community" and there's no Black Times Dispatch handing out monolithic ways to think or feel.

Black people survived slavery, Jim Crow, and the fight for civil rights. Our mental health is stronger than most. You don't have to agree. We don't care.

Blackish had an excellent episode showing that therapy works for some while for others it just makes them focus on the negative instead of moving on.

This stupid idea that Caucasian culture is the only way to live is what's truly offensive. I'm honestly tired of hearing the phrase "mental health" that's Caucasian culture. If you feel you can't control yourself somehow then do you and pop a pill with $5000 therapy sessions.

Black people remain unbroken until we adopt Caucasian culture. Go figure.

[–] Mandingo609 (6) 7 years ago

It couldn't be as stigmatized as sex with children is accepted in the white community. Here we have white judges and prosecutors giving white men and women probation for having sex with children between the ages of 8-15 and there's never any outrage from the whites. Instead, they like to ask black folks about their issues instead of focusing on their own issues.