Black Entrepreneurs and Mental Health
It's no secret that running a business is challenging; we must continually make decisions, manage finances, put in long hours, satisfy customers, and assist staff.
Being a Black entrepreneur nowadays makes it especially easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and business and lose sight of one's mental health. This may result in a wide range of problems, such as sadness, anxiety, strained relationships, and a sharp drop in performance.
Entrepreneurs’ need for help and awareness of mental health issues is being acknowledged more and more.
In an article entitled “Therapy for Black Entrepreneurs” by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford and Jor-El Caraballo, LMHC, they touch on some very important stigmas on mental health with people of color, specifically Black people. One of the key points that Dr. Joy mentions is the Black community’s historical relationship with religion and faith.
She states, “Many of us have been taught that if we struggle with mental health challenges, it means that we are not praying hard enough or don’t have a strong enough faith relationship.” And if you know like we know, that is definitely the saying our elders used to tell us growing up and the motto they lived by.
Dr. Joy also emphasizes the lack of home role models who are familiar with holistic approaches to mental illness and emotional imbalance. Furthermore, many of us haven't had role models who can demonstrate how to cultivate mindfulness, establish boundaries, and control our emotions.
Jor-El Caraballo also noted that part of the issue with Black people seeking help for mental health needs is the task of finding a “culturally competent therapist.” He suggested the following sites to start your search when seeking a therapist:
Hopefully, we can begin to debunk the stigmas surrounding the Black community and therapy, as it is becoming more evident on a more consistent basis that we are not exempt from the struggles and disparities of life. We experience them more and deserve an outlet for relief.