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By Nicole Smith, BlackDoctor.org Staff Writer
Black Americans are more likely than whites to suffer severe, untreated and disabling depression, U.S. research shows.Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health analyzed data on 6,082 people who took part in a national survey conducted between 2001 and 2003.
They found that 17.9 percent of white Americans had depression at some point in their lives, compared with 10.4 percent of blacks of African descent and 12.9 percent of blacks of West Indian or Caribbean descent.
Rates of depression in the 12 months before they were surveyed were 7.2 percent for Caribbean blacks; 6.9 percent for whites; and 5.9 percent for blacks of African descent. Among those who reported depression at some point in their lives, rates of depression in the 12 months before they were surveyed were 56.5 percent for blacks of African descent; 56 percent for Caribbean blacks; and 38.6 percent for whites.
"Fewer than half of the African Americans (45 percent) and fewer than a quarter (24.3 percent) of the Caribbean blacks who met the criteria (for depression) received any form of major depressive disorder therapy," the study authors wrote.
About 57 percent of white Americans with major depression received treatment.
"In addition, relative to whites, both black groups were more likely to rate their major depressive disorder as severe or very severe and more disabling," the researchers reported in the March issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Investigating why blacks may be less likely to develop depression and why they fare worse when they do develop the condition may help improve understanding about depression.
"Future research should explore the extent to which social support systems, including religious participation and psychological resources, such as high levels of self-esteem, can provide some protection to the black population from exposure to adverse social conditions." the study authors wrote.
Mental Health & African-American Health
May is Mental Health awareness month. Mental health in the Black community is an issue that is often ignored because:
- There is a stigma in the Black community
- The mental health establishment often mistreats blacks
- Both
Terrie Williams, a high-powered publicist who has serviced Janet Jackson, wrote of her depressive breakdown in the book 'Black Pain.' At what rate do black women suffer from depression as compared to white women?
- At the same rate
- Twice the rate
- Five times the rate
In addition to depression, African-American are more likely to suffer from certain psychological disorders particular to our community, such as:
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Phobias
Getting treatment for mental health is important, as suicide is the worse result of attempting to live with an untreated illness. How high is the rate of suicide for young black men versus young white men?
- It's higher for black men
- It's the same
- It's higher for white men
In addition, black Americans are often exposed to stressors that lead to higher incidences of untreated, more severe mental health problems, such as:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Job loss
- Social prejudice
With the many issues our community faces, reducing resistance to psychological treatment is of critical importance. Anti-depressant drugs may help in healing by:
- Numbing the pain of depression
- Restoring neurochemical balances in the brain
- Do they help?
What role can the black church play in mental health treatment?
- A purely positive role
- It's a mixed blessing
- There is no role for the church in mental health treatment
Therapy through professional services are important for blacks seeking mental health treatment. Yet, aside from fears and stigmas, many blacks do not receive effective professional treatment because:
- They don't have health insurance
- The medical establishment misdiagnoses African-Americans
- Both of these answers, and more
The good news is:
- There is no good news
- Black people recover at rates equal to whites with effective treatment
Mental health is an issue in our community that deserves attention and solutions. For psychological issues for ourselves and others, it is important to:
- Ignore the signals
- Create a proper treatment plan
- Wallow away in despair
Comments: (4)
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By: Jenn on 6/27/2008 4:16PM
DOES THIS INCLUDE BIRACIALS, SORTA JOKING HERE ON THAT, JUST A THOUGHT. DOES THIS HAVE TO CATAGORIZED BY RACE ? WHY NOT MALE AND FEMALE. OH YEAH RICH OR POOR MAYBE.
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By: Afordlove@aol.com on 6/28/2008 2:38PM
Blacks are no longer given good paying Jobs in America
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By: stev Hemingway on 6/29/2008 12:04AM
I am told that experiments with white mentally ill patients in the 1920's with blues music migitated symptoms. Since the early days of slavery, black's have developed self-medicating strategies. Dance and music are excellent therapies. "Juke Joints" were like mental clinics. And there was always the alcohol drug that could be administered. The black church is a primary source of therapy. The 'black community' by definition is an elaborate coping devise that is why mentioning that one has a mental illness leads to rejection because that term for us is redundant. I never have met a black person who has not been depressed at least one a week. If you got a hundred dollars instead of going to a psycho therapist put it in the collection plate - healing comes with a great show and music too.
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By: A on 6/29/2008 3:20AM
Fist off, as a west indian woman I find this study very biased. Black African Americans and Blacks world wide are no different. Carribean blacks ARE of african descent. ALL blacks are. Number two I find that in many studies they publicize those that degrades minorites the most. A survey of 6,000 people is not a very good representation of the three hundred million people (300,000,000) that live in America. Many of these people cannot diagnose themselves. And many whites as wel as black dont admitt to severe depression. I also find that they will alway put out more statistics because it looks worse for minorities than whites. With less than 12% of the population being black, Even if all of us were depressed there would still be atlest 3x if not more whites who are depressed number for number. Number for number whites make up more new HIV cases, more violent crimes and more welfare recipients threefold. Come on black voices you can do better. Why not put the truth out there instead of this crap which makes me depressed just reading it.
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