As Mental Health Awareness Month ends, we reflect on the importance of destigmatizing mental health issues and embracing therapy and support within our community. It’s time to prioritize our psychological and emotional well-being
As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, I hope you’ve encountered a news segment, an insightful article, or a meaningful conversation with a friend, family member, or colleague about mental health within our community.
For far too long, mental health has been a taboo subject in the African American community.
Many of us were brought up in environments where family matters were kept private, and seeking therapy or counseling was not considered a viable solution to familial challenges.
Instead, we often relied on our faith, believing that praying about our troubles would suffice.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]While I am certainly not discouraging prayer, I maintain a daily practice of it myself. I’ve come to understand the power of vocalizing our struggles while seeking spiritual guidance.[/perfectpullquote]
We carry an immense burden of mental health issues: stress, anxiety, pressure and depression. If left unexpressed and unchecked, these emotions can manifest physically, affecting our overall well-being. Stress, in particular, acts as a silent assassin, contributing to a host of chronic health conditions and even premature death. This partly explains why life expectancy in our communities is often lower than in others.
The Oxford Dictionary defines mental health as “a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.” The World Health Organization offers another perspective, characterizing mental health as “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life.”
Essentially, it’s about how we navigate life’s challenges, obstacles, traumas and dramas.
We must recognize the importance of seeking help. Therapy and counseling should not be stigmatized but rather embraced as valuable tools for our mental and emotional well-being.
I advocate for various forms of support, including community groups, youth groups, and individual therapy sessions, where we can openly share and address our mental and emotional concerns in safe and supportive environments.
If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance, there is no shame in seeking help.
We all deserve support on our journey toward mental wellness.
Twyler L. Jenkins is one of the most sought-after event planners in the City of Chicago, since she founded Strategic Events Solutions in 2001. With more than 25 years in conference management, special event planning, and registration facilitation, she is considered an expert in optimizing event profitability. Ms. Jenkins has managed to provide these core competencies services to some of the most notable nonprofit and corporate organizations in Chicagoland. She has efficiently executed her services with excellence for The University of Chicago, The University of Chicago Medicine, McDonald’s, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Chicago Urban League, ComEd/Exelon, National Black MBA Association, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, The Chicago Guardsmen and the Emmett Till Foundation, to name a few. In addition to her event management company, in 2018 Ms. Jenkins launched the I Am That Woman Movement and Retreat in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The IATW Movement and Retreat provides holistic wellness resources, events and programs locally and internationally to women.
Ms. Jenkins serves her community with the same creative and developmental excellence. She is the co-president of the board of directors for the South Side Community Art Center. She remains relative and connected as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Meeting Professionals International, the Professional Convention Management Association, and the Alliance of Independent Meeting Managers.