By Jemelia Shotwell, Certified Life Coach and Reiki Master

Let’s start this article with a moment of inner reflection. If possible, sit comfortably, close your eyes, rest your hands in your lap and take three deep breaths in and out through your nose. Now bring to your mind a memory of when you have experienced a challenging moment, whether mentally or emotionally, a moment when you did not feel the most supported. It wasn’t a comforting experience, was it?

Now, connect back to that moment once again, but this time imagine having close family, friends and community standing behind you, offering support, encouragement, love and understanding. How does that feel? Perhaps it feels inspiring, hopeful or supportive? 

That sense of support and love that you just experienced is something everyone deserves, without stigma, judgment and shame. As a community, we all carry the responsibility to give this to one another. This begins with the community collectively advocating for mental health, and bringing deep awareness to the idea that there is no separation; what affects one, affects all. 

Research suggests that the adult Black community is 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems, such as Major Depressive Disorder or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (“Addressing Mental Health,” 2019). Unfortunately, many suffer in silence. For too long, there has been a long-standing history of stigma surrounding mental health in the Black and Brown communities. While the impact and the depth of stigmas experienced may differ amongst families, I believe it is safe to say it has undeniably caused more harm than good to both individuals and the collective…