I found this article to be really interesting because the citings that are mentioned are reasons that I have noticed:
“She spoke to the issue of some populations tending to rely more on priests and preachers, and the idea of not going outside the family with problems.
The Surgeon General’s report did mention how African-Americans, for instance, are more likely to turn to churches, friends or family than psychiatrists for help  especially a white psychiatrist. It stated that about 25 percent of African-Americans are uninsured, but even those with adequate private coverage are less inclined to use mental health services and often wind up in emergency rooms because they delay treatment. Van Kirk also spoke of some ethnic groups being more inclined to “take care of yourself and your family.” She recommended clergy perhaps providing encouragement to those who come to them to seek professional help, or set up crisis centers at churches for this purpose. “Make it easy for them,” she said.” (more…)
I can’t tell you the number of times that I have seen mentally challenged people getting the devil cast out of them in some of the churches I have attended in the past (don’t get me started about the “in three days your son/daughter is going to be normal” stuff. Don’t worry, I’ll tackle that one another day).
As far as some of the other reasons go (cost of treatment and trust), those issues have been addressed in the past and need to continue to be addressed. Therapy ain’t cheap, and to have a doctor that is just using your child as a guinea pig for the latest treatments (in some cases) can be very intimidating.
The one thing that does concern me about the diagnoses of “mentally challenged” is that far too many young boys (especially Blacks and Hispanics) are given this verdict without thorough testing (look to ADHD to see those examples).
Sphere: Related Content
August 10th, 2005 at 11:44 pm
I personally have little to no trust in psychiatrists.
I do believe that a pastor is the best person to turn to when cousel is needed.
I do agree with you on the ‘casting out’ of deils, demons and spirits that can be witnessed in some churches. Though this would be for another topic, I submit that such churches are frauds through and through.
I’ve known many persons with mental issues, most closely my own mother-in-law.
What I took nootice of in every situation is that these particular persons were very busy filling their mind with crap (in vouge religious thought, the Celestine Prophecy for example) and had lived a life of feeling sorry for themselves because of various incidents throughout their life.
I’m not saying that no person has true mental issues, I am saying that a claim of mental illness is a very popular excuse in our America.
I know endless amounts pf persons who are on prozac and similar drugs.
Some may well need it, but most I know who take it seem to take as a way to avoid the realities of everyday life.
August 15th, 2005 at 10:34 am
duane, your comments re: “mentally challenged” people seem to be about the mh/mr (mentally handicapped/mentally retarded) population, whereas the article is speaking about mental illness. the two are not the same. this article is dealing with mental health issues such as depression and bipolar disorder and the stigmas related to such illnesses in the black community.
September 6th, 2005 at 6:35 pm
“According to the 2000 U.S. Census Report, about 2.2 percent of the 170,000 people in Washington County are black and 8.2 percent are Hispanic. The state of Arkansas’ Hispanic figure is 3.2 percent, while the statewide African-American percentage is 15.7 percent.
The Surgeon General’s report did mention how African-Americans, for instance, are more likely to turn to churches, friends or family than psychiatrists for help  especially a white psychiatrist. ”
I must be the only person that wants to see a psychologist, but I want to see a Black psychologist. I’ve been trying to find a Black psychologist for years. I won’t go to a White and/or non Black psychologist. I feel they don’t know about being Black, my culture, etc. I don’t feel right talking about my problems to non Black mental health professionals at all. I’ve been reading a lot of articles like this one and the only solutions to the problems are like non Black mental health professionals need to be aware of Black folks, etc. I do agree with the quotes that non Black mental health professionals can’t just relate to Black folks. My solutions to the Black mental health professional shortage is what is being done to attract Blacks into the mental health professional field? Espeically youth and college students. Since there are not enough Black mental health professionals, I don’t know what to do for myself. I feel the Black mental health professionals need to address the shortage they have.