Connect with us

Health and Wellness

Kids Are Not Okay: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Affecting Our Youth

Published

on

Mascot/Getty Images

Jamal Clay was the form of kid who at all times desired to help people. He was an intuitive soul, and his mother, Rafiah Maxie of Chicago, called him her “right hand.” Jamal often woke his mother up early so she could drop him off in school before the morning bell and help the teachers prepare the classrooms. At home, he helped Maxie handle her younger sister. “I think there were a lot of times he thought we were both parents,” she recalled. “He was very responsible.” He also had mental health issues – and had for years.

On May 27, 2020, Jamal took his own life of their family home. He was 19 years old. My sister found it hanging in the garage. At age 12, he used the same karate belt he utilized in his suicide attempt. During this time, Maxie and the doctors attributed Jamal’s mental state and low self-esteem to being bullied, and he was diagnosed with single-stage depression.

Attempts to proceed treatment with therapy were unsuccessful because Jamal’s providers weren’t making the agreed-upon home visits, had retired, or weren’t contacting him or Maxie. “There was definitely a sequence of events that let us down,” Maxie says. “We were left to deal with it ourselves and find a way to deal with it, even though we didn’t really have the resources or the ability.”

Kids Are Not Okay: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Affecting Our Youth
Stretch Photography/Getty Images

Maxie believes that when the pandemic began, months of isolation resulting from quarantine pushed her son to a dark place. He also believes that the murder of George Floyd, which occurred two days before Jamal’s suicide, caused psychological trauma. “And social media itself has an impact,” Maxie says. “It can almost take away your entire self-esteem and tear it to pieces.”

In recent years, social media has develop into a dominant force amongst young people ages 13 to 17, who divide their time between Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok, based on data from the Pew Research Center. The latter is currently the most often used application by teenagers – they spend a mean of 105 minutes on it a day. Research conducted in 2018 showed that 95 percent teenagers had access to a smartphone, and 45 percent admitted that they’re online almost continuously. Research has shown the negative impact of viewing racially-related traumatic events online on the mental health of teenagers of color. Social media has also been found to be particularly harmful to young people who find themselves vulnerable to or suffer from mental disorders. Maxie believes this had a negative impact on her son. Because of this, “I don’t think he would be able to say, ‘It’s OK. Everything will be alright. “Life will be okay,” Maxie says.

Ongoing crisis

Dr. Kamala Uzzell, a psychotherapist based in Durham, North Carolina, began her practice in 2009 with the goal of normalizing counseling for people of color. “If patients see a therapist who looks like them, they may think,” Uzzell says. “Even before I opened my practice, I heard a standard belief that African Americans didn’t go to therapy. We go to church and pray about it. Or we deny it and say, “It’s not really happening.”

Maya Williams, a 26-year-old nonbinary person from Portland, Maine, grew up coping with the consequences of this denial. “My family was talking about mental health and the conversation turned to ‘growing pains’ or ‘God is not providing you with greater than you’ll be able to handle’ or ‘Are you sure you are praying hard enough?’ says. “Prayer has been helping Black people for years, but at the same time it’s like telling us, ‘Talk to God about it so that you haven’t got to consult with me about it.’ I didn’t feel comfortable talking to my parents and unpacking it until I used to be older.”

Maya saw a college counselor for a yr in eighth grade – around the same time she expressed suicidal thoughts to her mother and two years before her suicide attempt at age 15. Her family didn’t know that she had attempted to take her own life until she was 19 and published an essay about her experiences.

According to the American Psychological Association, African-American teenagers outperform their white and Latino counterparts in suicide attempts. Additionally, between 2001 and 2017, suicide rates amongst African-American adolescent girls increased by 182 percent. Some organizations, reminiscent of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in California, point to untreated mental health conditions as one possible reason for the increase. At the age of 5, the yr her parents divorced, Maya began showing signs of dermatillomania, a repeated urge to choose at her skin – sometimes related to obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, she wasn’t diagnosed with the condition until she was 19, at the same time she was diagnosed with anxiety. And she began taking medications to treat any of her diagnoses until July 2020. “I’ve struggled with mental health issues for a really long time, but now I have to work through new fears,” she says. “So I wanted to try medication to feel the way I want.”

Kids Are Not Okay: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Affecting Our Youth
Thinkstock/Getty Images

A parent’s nightmare

Although rates of mental illness in African Americans are just like rates in the general population, based on the American Psychiatric Association, just one in three Blacks who need mental health care receive it.

“There are a lot of different resources that didn’t exist three or four years ago,” says Dr. Tia Dole, executive director of the Steve Fund, a corporation that supports the mental health of young people of color. “It takes some persistence, and too often parents wait until their child has an actual crisis. You may notice their withdrawal over the course of months, after which suddenly you see self-harm. The sooner you get in, the faster they’ll improve.

For parents of youngsters over 18, securing treatment for them generally is a Herculean task. This was the case of Atlanta resident Bridget Gipson, whose son, Steven A. Gipson, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2015. Even before his diagnosis, he began to exhibit manic behavior, which is why his mother sought skilled help. But considering Steven was an adult, she needed his cooperation. In September 2014, he left Atlanta and stopped contacting her. She filed a missing individuals report; he was found just a few days later in Miami Beach and brought to a close-by hospital.

“The doctor told me, ‘Your son is here and we’re going to let him go,'” he says. “I begged the hospital to put him in a center where he could receive additional help. They wouldn’t do that. But when Gipson went to Florida to pick up Steven, the hospital wouldn’t release him. “I was devastated,” she says. “They released him back onto the streets of Miami. He went missing again for nearly three months.

In December, Steven returned to Atlanta together with his mother. After being hospitalized, he began taking medication, attending therapy sessions and living in an apartment near Gipson’s home. She even managed to achieve custody of Steven in early 2015, but with restrictions. She couldn’t admit him to hospital unless he posed a danger to himself, and she or he couldn’t force him to take his medications, which he stopped taking in February 2015. A month later, on March 19, 2015, Steven committed suicide. He was 26 years old.

Changing the dialogue

People of color are increasingly discussing mental health and its challenges, but many parents still don’t understand why their child is struggling. “I see a lot of guilt among parents of color,” Dole says. “They think, .”

However, he notes that oldsters have to do away with this sort of pondering. “The underlying causes of mental illness in children and young adults can be the result of a myriad of factors, from environmental to genetic,” he notes. And because each child is exclusive and has a distinct set of circumstances, the signs that they could be struggling present in another way. The neatest thing parents can do is talk, listen, pay close attention and be open to learning.

“Because the therapy wasn’t as accessible and acceptable in Africa
There are many parents and grandparents in the American community who do not believe in their pain,” Uzzell says. “One in four people will experience some type of mental health problem. Maybe it’s not a long-term condition, maybe it’s short-term, but one in four people will experience it. This means that experiencing mental and emotional suffering is normal and we need to start talking about it normally with someone.”

  • Steve’s Fund created a special keyword, STEVE, that young POC can text to 741741 to be connected to a trained crisis counselor.
  • Souls of Chicago survivorsfounded by Rafiah Maxie, donates the shoes of deceased family members to organizations and other people in need and hosts educational workshops on the importance of mental health assessments.

Chloe Castleberry is a author and editor based in New York. Her works have appeared in , and .

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Health and Wellness

Whoopi Goldberg believes that financially prudent millennials choose not to have children because they are “lazy” – essence

Published

on

By

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 09: Whoopi Goldberg attends the 2023 Bring Change To Mind Gala at City Winery on October 9, 2023 in New York City. (Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Our beloved EGOT winner left a few of us perplexed together with her recent tackle why millennials aren’t having babies at the identical rate as previous generations. According to her, that is not because of environmental issues, social justice or economics, but because of poor work ethic.

On a recent episode of The View, the favored daytime show moderated by Goldberg, she shared her views in her signature, straightforward style.

“I’m sorry, you already know, listen, every generation comes and desires to do higher than their parents. But I’m sorry, in the event you only want to work 4 hours, it’s going to be harder for you to discover a home,” Goldberg said.

When her co-host identified that millennials are in a worse financial situation than their parents, Goldberg doubled down, suggesting that the group is lazy.

“I feel sorry for anyone who feels this, but I’m sorry, we busted our asses, we had to bust our asses because we had no way to come back. We had different things.” She adds: “You know what, people pick up on it, they do what they do, and they grow up,” the EGOT winner continued. “This is what you have to do. That’s called being a very good citizen.”

The data suggests this is simpler said than done.

AND December 2022 study of over 300 Gen Z adults (ages 18-25) surveyed online by The Harris Poll and DailyPay told the story of many young people delaying maturity due to rising costs of living that keep many Gen Zers within the homes where they grew up. Specifically, as many as 54% of individuals aged 18-25.

As previously reported by ESSENCE, the report found that only 28% of Gen Zers said they were able to pay all their bills on time, according to the survey results.

Do you agree with Whoopi?

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
Continue Reading

Health and Wellness

Rates of sexually transmitted diseases are rising among middle-aged and older people. We need to talk about this

Published

on

By

Common rates worldwide sexually transmitted infections (STI) is increasing among people over 50 years of age. In some cases, rates are rising faster than among younger people.

Last data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that among people aged 55 and over, the incidence of gonorrhea and chlamydia, the 2 commonest sexually transmitted diseases, greater than doubled between 2012 and 2022.

Australian STI surveillance data reflects similar trends. Between 2013 and 2022, there was a gradual increase within the number of diagnoses of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis among people aged 40 and older. For example, in 2013, 5,883 cases of chlamydia were reported in Australians over the age of 40, compared to 10,263 in 2022.

AND 2020 survey of Australian women also found that between 2000 and 2018, there was a greater increase in sexually transmitted diseases among women aged 55-74 than among young women.

Although the general rate of common sexually transmitted diseases is highest among young adultsthe numerous increase within the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases among middle-aged and older people suggests that we must always pay more attention to sexual health throughout our lives.

Why are rates of sexually transmitted diseases rising among older people?

STI rates are is increasing worldwide in all age groupsand the rise within the number of middle-aged and older people is consistent with this trend.

However, the rise in STIs among older people is probably going due to a mix changing practices around sex and relationships and hidden sexual health needs in this group.

The “boomer” generation got here of age within the Nineteen Sixties and Seventies. They are the generation of free love and their attitude towards sexat the same time as they age, it is totally different from the generations that preceded them.

Taking into consideration average age of divorce in Australia is over 43 years old, and the Internet has opened up latest possibilities dating after separationit isn’t surprising that middle-aged and older people explore latest sexual practices or find multiple sexual partners.

People can form latest relationships later in life.
Media Shade/Shutterstock

It can also be possible that middle-aged and older people haven’t had exposure to sexual health education at college or don’t address current secure sex messageswhich are mainly geared toward young people. Therefore, condoms could appear unnecessary for individuals who are not trying to avoid pregnancy. Older people can too lack of confidence in negotiating secure sex or access to screening for sexually transmitted diseases.

Hidden sexual health needs

In modern life, the sexual lives of older people are largely invisible. It is usually related to aging and an older body loss of power and attractivenesswhich is reflected within the stereotype of older people as asexual and in derogatory jokes about older people having sex.

WITH some exceptionswe see few positive representations of older sexual bodies in film and television.

The sexuality of older people can also be largely invisible in public policy. In Australian Politics Review Researchers found that middle-aged and older people were rarely mentioned when it got here to sexual and reproductive health.

Sexual health policies tend to goal groups with the best rates of sexually transmitted diseases, which excludes most older people. Because middle-aged and older people are beyond reproductive age, they are also not included in reproductive health policies. This means a general lack of any policy regarding sex or sexual health among middle-aged and older people.

Moreover, sexual health policy focuses on risk fairly than sexual well-being. Sexual well-beingincluding freedom and the power to enjoy sexis strongly linked to the general health and quality of life of adults of all ages. Including sexual well-being as a policy priority would enable a deal with secure and respectful sex and relationships throughout adult life.

Without this priority, now we have limited knowledge about what promotes sexual well-being as people age and limited funding for initiatives to engage with midlife and older adults on these issues.

One man working in his home office and happily chatting with another man.
Middle-aged and older people could have limited knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases.
Southworks/Shutterstock

How can we support the sexual health and well-being of older people?

Most sexually transmitted diseases might be easily cured. Serious complications nevertheless, it might probably occur when sexually transmitted diseases go undiagnosed and untreated for long periods of time. If left untreated, sexually transmitted diseases will also be passed on to others.

Late diagnosis is just not unusual because some STIs may cause no symptoms and many individuals don’t routinely screen for STIs. Older heterosexual adults are generally less likely to accomplish that than other groups seek regular screening for sexually transmitted diseases.

For middle-aged and older people, STIs can also be diagnosed late because some are diagnosed too late doctors don’t start testing for fear of offending or assume that the danger of sexually transmitted diseases among older people is negligible.

Many doctors do are reluctant to talk about sexual health with older patients unless the patient specifically raises the difficulty. However, older people may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable raising issues related to sex.

A superb first step could be resources for healthcare professionals and patients to facilitate conversations about sexual health and STI screening with older patients.

We must also make sure that we address the rising rates of sexually transmitted diseases among middle-aged and older people. sexual health promotion targets these age groups and improves access to clinical services.

More broadly, it is crucial to consider ways to ensure sexual well-being is a priority in midlife and older maturity policy and practice.

A comprehensive approach to older adults’ sexual health that explicitly highlights the importance of sex and intimacy in people’s lives will enhance our ability to respond more effectively to sexual health and STI prevention across the lifespan.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
Continue Reading

Health and Wellness

Here’s how to cope with the holiday blues in a healthy way

Published

on

By

A young thoughtful African American woman drinks coffee by the window. Copy space.

Christmas will be extremely difficult for anyone who has lost a loved one in their life. Those who grieve the death of a loved one likely dread the holidays since it is often a joyful time reserved for spending time with members of the family and friends. The holidays may trigger painful feelings of longing and grief for the bereaved, and witnessing the happiness of others can trigger anger, resentment, sadness and pain, in addition to feelings of isolation and loneliness, especially in case you often enjoy indulging in holiday traditions. However, there are methods to cope with the holiday blues and feel supported, uplifted and supported during the holiday season. Here are some easy ways to cope with the complex sense of loss during the holiday season.

For those grieving during the holiday season:

Consider finding a grief support group: Joining a support group with other individuals who have experienced grief will be a great way to connect with others who understand what you’re going through.

Acknowledge your feelings: Sitting with your grief will be a complicated process, but it surely is essential to confront it with the hope of taking steps towards healing.

Talk to a therapist: If you’ll be able to’t cope with it, talking to a specialist will be very helpful.

Spend time with supportive family and friends. Surround yourself with individuals who make you are feeling loved, supported and never judged.

Get involved in your community: Volunteering or doing other activities to help others in need will help take your mind off the sadness and make you are feeling good.

Keep the spirit of your family members alive during the holidays: Decorate with their favorite colours or decorations. You may play their favorite Christmas songs, prepare their favorite dishes, take a look at their old photos and listen to their recordings.

Here’s how to deal with a grieving person:

Acknowledge their loss. There’s nothing unsuitable with telling them something about what happened. Avoid phrases like “at least,” “it was for the best,” or “they’re calm now.”

Be an lively listener. Let them discuss their family members and their sadness. Avoid giving advice and telling them how they need to feel.

Sit with them in their sadness: Sometimes it’s best to do or say nothing while a person is grieving. Let them feel your feelings.

Don’t tell them how to feel: Try not to impose their feelings by telling them how they need to feel. Instead, offer them a secure and soft space to land.

Offer real help: Instead of claiming, “Let me know what you need help with,” roll up your sleeves and offer practical support, like running errands, preparing a meal, cleansing up, giving them an Uber Eats gift card, or inviting them out for a drink. These small but doable acts of service will make their lives easier because most of their thoughts are consumed with grief and balancing life beyond the loss.

Be patient and understanding: Grief is a lifelong process that does not magically disappear overnight, because the person in your life who’s grieving needs gentleness, understanding and beauty. It is best to be compassionate and never judge their behavior or how they’re going through the grieving process.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending