New Book Discusses Mental Health Among Blacks, Challenges They Face In Seeking, Receiving Treatment
According to Williams, members of the black community tend to mask or disregard signs of depression, which can mean that many blacks with mental health problems do not receive treatment. She said, "Depression is a sign of weakness in the black community. Black people would rather say that they have a relative in jail before they will acknowledge that they have a mental illness."
In addition, blacks are less likely than others to have "comforts," such as mental health services, massage or yoga, that could help them with depression, Williams said. She added, "If you don't have access to those comforts that cushion what you're going through, that in and of itself makes (dealing with depression) different and very difficult."
Williams' book also says that misdiagnosis of depression is common among blacks. She said, "We're perceived to be the ones who can handle our business, and so there is that tendency to not recognize depression in African-Americans. In general, I think there's a lack of knowledge about the black experience with depression" (Payne, U.S. News & World Report, 1/16).
Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Noua carte Discusses Sãnãtate Mintalã Printre Blacks, provocãrile cu care se confruntã în încercarea, primesc tratament - New Book Discusses Mental Health Among Blacks, Challenges They Face In Seeking, Receiving Treatment - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate