Depression is an illness, not a weakness. This notion will be the prevailing message at a conference on Friday in Brooklyn that will shine a bright light on the often dark and taboo topic of mental illness in the African-American community.
Kenneth Braswell is the executive director of Fathers Incorporated (FI), a grassroots community organization that, among other things, works to eliminate fatherlessness in the community. Braswell will co-host the one-day event at St. Paul Community Baptist Church. The symposium is titled “Code Blue: A Call For Community Healing” and will feature several experts in the field of mental health, including best-selling author Terrie Williams, who, in 2008, penned her semi-autobiographical book, “Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting.”
In an interview with the AmNews, Braswell said the issue of mental illness has long been present and pervasive in the African-American community. However, only recently in the past several years has the topic been discussed extensively in our community. Add to the mix the recent suicides of hip-hop mogul Chris Lighty and “Soul Train” legend Don Cornelius, and the issue of mental health and Black men is once again at the forefront of discussions. However, Braswell said the continued, perceived stigma of mental illness in society can be nearly as disabling as the disease itself.
“Almost nobody, but specifically Black folks, want to admit that something might be wrong with their minds,” Braswell said. “We have learned to live with pain so long, we don’t know what it looks like anymore.” He added that Black men often receive contradicting messages from society when it comes to expressing feelings or showing emotions.
“If he over-expresses himself, he’s considered violent or dangerous,” Braswell said. “This is a common response Black men get from family court judges when it comes to issues regarding the care of his children.”
Lastly, for New York public relations guru Williams, the entire issue of depression and mental illness extends far beyond just having a bad day or sad feelings.
“It’s about managing them through talk, therapy, medication, exercise and having a closer relationship with God,” she said. “It’s only through sharing our stories that we will find healing with one another and extend it to our community.”
In addition to Braswell and Williams, other panelists at the “Code Blue” conference include Janet Taylor, M.D., of “The Jeremy Kyle Show”; Jeff Gardere, M.D., of the “Love & Hip-Hop” show; Sidney Hankerson, M.D., of the New York State Psychiatric Institute; and physicians Derek and Darcel Suite of the Full Circle Life Enrichment Center. The event begins at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.fathersincorporated.com.
