GayWrites Talks Being LGBT & in Therapy
Therapy is often a confusing and difficult process for a lot of people. The biggest part of the battle for some folks in just getting in the door. And if you identify as LGBTQ+ you may also have to consider if you are able to find an affirmative provider. When I came across the video from YouTube creator GayWrites below, I thought it would be a good clip to share here. In this 7+ minuted clip you'll get a sense of what kinds of therapy are out there and how you might go about finding, and paying for therapy.
Check it out below!
The 4th of July
I've struggled with what to say and how to share thoughts today, Independence Day. Our country feels so divided and lacking in compassion and understanding. All I can say is this, I hope that we can continue to move forward with the tenets of life, liberty, and justice for all...but REALLY. Let's all make sure to continue to use the rights that we do have to uplift and support one another enthusiastically and completely. I'm reminded by one quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his Letter from Birmingham Jail today:
Helping the Helpers: Why Physicians Die by Suicide
As a culture, we often look at doctors as our everyday heroes. They are there for us in our most troubling times, helping us survive through disaster or helping us cope with the horrors of illness and what it means to be human. Doctors, in particular, have been a part of all our lives at some point. They helped us or our loved ones combat symptoms of an illness, heal our sick children and are typically the first of those around us to witness our grieving. What happens when doctors are the ones trying to battle through illness and grief themselves?
Why Physicians Die by Suicide: Lessons Learned from their Families and Others Who Cared by Dr. Michael Myers gives us insight into the realities of mental health issues in doctors. What we learn from this text is that those who are sworn by oath to "do no harm" often find themselves doing harm to themselves by not receiving adequate mental health care.
Surprisingly, there is a lot of stigma when it comes to doctors accessing professional mental health support. Whether it's therapy or medication, doctors can sometimes struggle to battle through the same stigma that the rest of us face when we encounter mental health challenges. In addition, since they are so heavily invested in the role of healer and problem solver, there is an added pressure to keep their mental health issues quiet, powering through in order to be the overachievers and perfectionists that school and training have often taught them to be. After all, in their professions lives are at stake daily. In Myers' estimation, it seems that doctors forget that their lives are at stake too.
In Why Physicians Die by Suicide: Lessons Learned from Families and Others Who Cared, Myers shares of his personal connection to suicide. He lost a young colleague, and roommate, by the name of Bill early on in his medical career to suicide. It's no doubt that this experience has influenced Myers' trajectory and passion about de-stigmatizing mental health issues for medical doctors. In his book, he also shares stories and vignettes from doctors and other family members of those who have dealt with depression and suicide. The anecdotes are staggering, and are reminiscent of some of the conversations I have with family members who have loved ones who struggle with thoughts of suicide.
It's difficult to talk about suicide in any context. Many therapists and mental health professionals struggle with that as well. This is exactly why we need a book like Why Physicians Die by Suicide. We have to continue to de-stigmatize the realities that people of all walks of life can be dealing with depressive thoughts and or suicidal thoughts and plans. Myers warns us that we also have to be particularly watchful of our doctors because they can often find very creative ways to mask their depression and other mental health challenges. As a therapist, this is an eye-opening text and will absolutely change the way that I think about my work with those in the helping professions who often find themselves giving so much to their clients and patients.
Why Physicians Die by Suicide: Lessons Learned from Families and Others Who Cared is available for purchase at most major book retailers such as Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
MTV Decoded Tackles Mental Health Stigma
About one in Americans experiences a mental illness in a given year. That's about 20% of our population. But according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, only about 40% of people receive services to treat their conditions. What's the culprit? Many say stigma.
Stigma around mental health issues and mental health treatment is one theme that I consistently run into in my work. Many clients report that they held off on accessing therapy services due to stigma around talking to a therapist or needing professional help. Additionally, for those who could benefit from medication or other treatments in conjunction with talk therapy, stigma serves as a constant barrier. No one wants to be "that person" needing to take Prozac daily for their depression.
The reality is that many of us are suffering in silence. There's no need for that. Speaking with a mental health professional may be the single healthiest and most important choice of your life. Not only could you learn ways to cope with symptoms and other life issues, but you also give yourself much-needed self-care time in a world that is often very demanding of your time and emotional energy.
I was really happy to come across MTV's recent episode of Decoded titled "5 Mental Health Stigmas that Need to Go!" It's a quick and important video to watch to continue to dismantle the stigma around mental health and treatment. The video stars host Franchesca Ramsey breaking down stigmas that keep many folks out of treatment. Please watch the video below.
The Breakfast Club Talks Mental Health
Recently, the radio hosts of the Breakfast Club hosted a discussion on their morning show about mental health issues, particularly in the Black community. They were joined by Dr. Kendall Jasper, a clinical psychologist who practices in North Carolina and Rwenshaun Miller, a mental wellness advocate, coach and founder of Eustress, Inc.In the interview below Jasper and Miller (along with Charlamagne, Angela Yee and DJ Envy) talk about symptoms that someone may be struggling, the stigma around mental health and paths to recovery. Miller also shares much of his personal story as well. It's a great discussion, and one that is all too infrequent, particularly in Black communities. Check it out below.