Pulse

Brock Institute joins effort on minority mental health wellness

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The EVMS M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health is among the partners in a new venture to address mental health wellness in the Black community.

Sentara Healthcare is investing $250,000 with the Urban League of Hampton Roads to increase outreach and awareness of vital resources and services to help people in need of mental health services. The Urban League is partnering with the EVMS Brock Institute and Norfolk State University’s Center for African American Public Policy to provide educational workshops and supportive research for the development of a sustaining mental health literacy program.

“Mental illness is nondiscriminatory and affects all races, ages, income and communities, but underserved populations, most often times communities of color, tend to suffer in silence,” says Dana Beckton, Sentara’s Chief Diversity Officer. “Our investment with the Urban League supports their ongoing advocacy efforts to close the health disparities among Black and other minority populations.”

According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than White adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress. Despite the needs, only one in three Black adults who need mental health care receive it. One study showed that 63% of Black people believe that a mental health condition is a sign of personal weakness. As a result of the stigma, people may experience shame about having a mental illness and worry that they may be discriminated against due to their condition.

The Urban League, NSU and EVMS will partner with the faith-based community to engage pastors, clergy leadership and congregants about the importance of mental health wellness. The initial target population will be Hampton, Newport News and Suffolk – who each have the highest percentage of Black population in those cities.

“This exciting collaborative partnership is focused on enhancing relationships, building trust and promoting healing while raising awareness of mental health disparities, reducing stigma and supporting self-seeking behaviors,” says Dr. Cynthia Romero, Director of the Brock Institute.

“We are honored by Sentara’s significant investment to the Urban League of Hampton Roads and commitment to improve mental health and wellness within our communities of color,” says Gil Bland, President & CEO for the Urban League of Hampton Roads. “The data is daunting.  Across the U.S. economy, serious mental illness causes $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year. According to Mental Health America, 13.4% of the US Population identifies as African American. Of those, more than 16% reported having a mental illness over the past year – equating to over 7 million people. Unfortunately, despite the need – the stigma associated with mental illness keeps Black people from seeking help for mental illness. [This] announcement allows us to further our efforts to educate and connect the Black community to important mental health service.”