Grace Advertising & Consulting, Inc.

- 23 - accessHealthNews.net July 2023 Volume 9 | Issue No. 72 T he exhaustion is real and goes deep. Shootings of unarmed Black and brown men and women by police officers forever change the lives of their families or close relations. But the ripple effect reaches the heart of communities. And sometimes, the emotional, mental and physical toll leaves individuals grappling with feelings of fear, anger, rage, grief, pain. There is a sense of isolation, depression, desperation, and hopelessness. This "racial battle fatigue" stems from being exposed to constant racism, discrimination, stereotypes, and microaggressions. Individuals grow tired and are on guard for the next attack. Dismissive, demeaning, insensitive, or hostile words and actions can eventually cause physical reactions like sleeping disorders, tension headaches, irritability, and loss of appetite. Trying to deal with the trauma, whether extreme or subtle, direct or indirect, becomes a painful process. Seeking help can be a lifeline. "The need for psychological treatment has escalated," explains Dr. Ana Nogales, of Nogales Psychological Counseling, Inc. Her clinical staff of about 30 bicultural-bilingual mental health professionals treat underserved populations, women, and teenagers. People of color face even more issues that add fuel to the fire, and fatigue can become all-consuming. The coronavirus pandemic crippled Black and brown communities, bringing to light disparity in medical access and treatment. A National Institute of Mental Health report revealed that, "Black people face increased rates of risk factors, including experiences of racism, higher rates of unemployment and financial and food insecurity, disparities in other aspects of health, and limited access to care, all of which result in an increased burden of mental illness in black communities… As of 2018, suicide became the second leading cause of death in Black children aged 10-14, and the third leading cause of death in Black adolescents aged 15-19." For Latinx communities, another layer of sweeping generalizations and stereotypes adds to the fatigue. Although Latinos come from many different countries and speak a variety of Spanish dialects and other languages, they are lumped together and negatively targeted in the media as foreigners, criminals, intellectually inferior, and threats. That trickle-down effect hits them in their relationships and communities, at work, school, and life. "Anxiety and depression have increased tremendously in the Latinx community," says Nogales. "We know we have the highest number of adults in any ethnic group who have considered suicide in the last thirty days." Despite this weight bearing down on them, people of color are less likely to seek help or access treatment even though they may desperately need help to cope with a situation, improve their mental well-being, and start healing. Mental Health and the Fear of Stigma Black and Latinx individuals hesitate to seek mental health therapy because of myths and stigmas associated with it. In 2004, Dr. Walter Brown founded L.A. Peace of Mind, a psychotherapy and wellness center in Los Angeles for people of color and marginalized people and communities. In more than 20 years of practice, he has seen great disparity in resources for the Black community and that can perpetuate the stigma of mental health therapy. "We don't have full representation in the health system," says Brown. "Unfair judgments about an individual's conditions and treatments were often made based on culture, race and social justice issues." "You don't have to live in pain. You don't have to be suffering. You can have access to services and to new possibilities of having a better life, a healthy life, a dignified life." - Dr. Ana Nogales READ MORE

• Cover