There’s a girl who is involved on campus, invested in her academics, and pours positivity into her peers. She smiles when she passes you, yet her eyes depict a different tale. They are painted with stress, pain and trauma, but she still utters, “I’m fine.” Little to your knowledge, she’s tired of feeling exhausted despite a full night’s rest. She’s spent days lying in bed, unable to fathom going to class or work. She’s even experienced dark points in her life where she nearly lost her will to live. That girl is me, a Black woman at the age of 20 who has battled with some severe low points and no way of explaining why to her loved ones. In this article, I will explore my personal experiences, becoming an advocate for mental health and resources in our campus community to help you overcome.
Being raised in a Caribbean household, I was constantly told to “hush,” wash the tears off my face, drink some tea, or take a nap to feel better. As I got older, I began to realize how these were ineffective methods of coping and catalysts for a vicious cycle of suppression and repression. I remember in high school that my mood swings were more prevalent in my daily life. One day I would be in great spirits, ready to conquer the day, and the next, I wouldn’t want to leave the house or talk to my friends and family. I would go to my parents for advice and guidance, but they couldn’t understand why I was down so often, and when I would try to explain, it was like hitting a blockade every time.
In minority communities, it is instilled at a young age to keep your business in the family. For instance, I was often shot down or not taken seriously when I spoke about my desire to see a therapist because that was a breach of my family’s confidentiality. To go see a “shrink” and talk about my past traumas or family situation was not accepted. The idea of resilience and perseverance are strong themes in minority communities. If we can conquer hardships due to our socioeconomic standpoints, we can overcome depression or anxiety, right? That’s a common sentiment that feeds into the mental health stigma, despite research showing the increases of mental illness among Black teens and young adults.
Additionally, the media tends to shed light on mental health when it comes to white people. This lack of representation continues to be detrimental to our fight to end the stigma against mental health in minority communities. In recent years, however, there have been films and TV shows, such as This Is Us, Empire and Euphoria, that depict Black characters suffering from mental illness. This is a major feat in creating a new culture of acceptance and promoting mental wellness in the community.
Coming to Florida State helped me connect with people that not only share similar experiences but also look like me. It was empowering to be in the presence of people of color who could relate to my struggles and had trouble with the stigma in their own lives. I felt something spark inside of me as I began to wonder how I can break this generational curse that has plagued my family. I wanted to discover a way to ensure the generations that come after me are informed and feel safe to express their feelings. I wanted to create a culture in my family that advocates and promotes therapy or counseling because I know how much it has helped me during this time.
I went to the Counseling Center for the first time during my sophomore year, and just being able to talk to someone felt so freeing. It was something new for me to speak openly outside of the family and have someone listen rather than get frustrated. I began implementing the strategies my counselor gave me and started to feel better day by day. For instance, she would have me do some introspection and pinpoint what emotions came up most often. Then, she would have me realize why I felt that way and what the trigger was. The simple act of looking in and noticing where my mood shifts or when I begin to get anxious helped me work backward to inhibit it from happening so frequently.
Florida State has an abundance of resources and programs geared toward assisting students in hard times and breaking this stigma. Programs like RENEW, Noles C.A.R.E., Victim Advocate and the Resilience Project all provide emotional support and materials to regain your peace of mind. In the Tallahassee Community, organizations such as the Oasis Center offer programming and services for women and girls. There are also many holistic options that I partake in, such as meditation, yoga, sound healing, and journaling. Find your fit and see what works for you!
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