New NAMI program for Black families works to erase stigma of mental illness
by Leslie Johnson
While African Americans make up only 11-to-12 percent of the nation’s population, they account for approximately 25% of Americans with mental health needs.
Though this number is astounding, very few African Americans are receiving treatment and even less have been properly diagnosed.
African Americans typically view themselves as very mentally/physically strong people, having survived slavery and operating under the belief that "if it doesn’t kill you, it will only make you stronger."
We have been socialized to view health problems as a sign of personal weakness and don’t count mental illness as being an actual sickness since there are no physical symptoms.
Growing up, I remember overhearing my grandmother on the telephone discussing certain family members who were seen as out of sorts because they were suffering from "the blues" or just plain "crazy."
Now that I am an adult, I know that these family members weren’t just behaving badly or having moral lapses in judgment. I have since come to realize that these family members were battling some severe mental health issues such as major depression and bipolar disorder.
It was instilled in me from an early age to rely heavily on my family and church for support. I am one of 57.7 million Americans who have experienced a mental illness, which in my case is a bipolar disorder.
However, as a person with this illness, it was vitally important that I pursue treatment as a way of maintaining good health and wellbeing.
I strongly believe my family represents many African American families who are not equipped with knowledge about mental illness, let alone treatment options such as medication and/or talk therapy.
Our society’s belief systems work against those of us with mental illness when it comes to its diagnosis and treatment. But those aren’t the only obstacles. Too many of us don’t have healthcare insurance or access to African American psychologists.
According to a recent article in "Black Women’s Health" magazine, "only two percent of the nation’s psychologists are Black." This is problematic to say the least.
In 1979 a handful of mothers--frustrated and angry with a society that unwittingly shunned their children’s mental health issues--created an organization dedicated to empowering families and educating society about mental health.
Thus was created the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), a grassroots organization that champions the need for greater awareness and information about mental illness.
There are NAMI chapters in over 1,100 communities around the country. Pioneering and advocating for families of mentally ill persons in Milwaukee is Brenda Wesley.
An outreach coordinator with NAMI since 2006, Wesley calls the organization a "hidden treasure no one knew existed," explaining she stumbled upon the local chapter while listening to 1290 WMCS AM radio’s Cassandra Cassandra talk about mental illness on her "Morning Magazine" show.
After hearing the compelling accounts of mental illness and the fact there is a lack of education and awareness in the community (not to mention the lack of awareness in her family when it came to dealing with her son’s mental illness), Wesley joined the Milwaukee NAMI chapter, becoming a relentless advocate.
She hosts weekly workshops and seminars, educating families (including her own) and the community on mental illness.
"This illness must receive the same level of importance in the community as all other illnesses affecting our people," Wesley says.
"When (former Green Bay Packer Quarterback) Brett Favre’s wife, Deanna went public with her diagnosis of Breast Cancer, the media came out in droves and fundraisers were held with money pouring in for education and research.
"There has to be the same--if not greater--value placed on awareness and education in the community as it relates to mental illness," said Wesley.
With the encouragement of NAMI’s Executive Director Brad Montgomery and former Director Michelle Zuba, Wesley created and implemented an outreach program for African American families called ASK (Access, Support and Knowledge).
Boosted by the financial support of the Kubly Foundation and Astrazeneca Pharmaceutical Company, Wesley and a host of volunteers are able to provide seminars and family-to-family training sessions to African American families.
NAMI also works with the Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department in the Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) program, which helps to develop greater sensitivity and awareness among law enforcement about mental illness and how to properly respond to and handle mentally ill individuals experiencing a crisis.
It is only appropriate that, as a community, we equip ourselves with knowledge and understanding about mental illness.
To this end, NAMI will hold a Walk on May 17 at Veterans’ Park at 9 a.m. The event will feature Green Bay Packer receiver Greg Jennings and his wife Nicole as honorary walk chairpersons.
