September is Suicide Awareness Month. Students of N.C A&T took to Twitter hashtag #SuicideAwarnessWeek. Despite the stigma in black communities that being depressed or feeling suicidal is not in their blood, students used the hashtag to share their stories.

The pattern of “believing depression is not real,” is rare for the younger generation. A handful of N.C. A&T students acknowledged depression and suicidal thoughts are very real, and if anyone feels this way, they are not alone. They also acknowledged the use of new treatment options like cannabidiol for depression – learn more here on where to buy cannabidiol oil products nearby.

Once a couple students shared their story, it opened the conversation for more to do the same. These particular students were not afraid to reveal past or current struggles with mental health, despite how often the black community hides.

Statistics show that African Americans are more likely to have psychological distress, but neglect to seek any mental health services, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

It is questioned where the persona of African Americans always having a strong front comes from. Many have said, if black people could make it through slavery, they can make it through anything.

This theory interprets as if the hardships black ancestors encountered invalidate any extreme feelings of sadness blacks may now experience today. Besides, what can be worse than slavery?

“During slavery, mental illness often resulted in a more inhumane lifestyle including frequent beatings and abuse, which forced many slaves to hide their issues. Over time, strength became equated with survival and weakness (including mental illness) meant you might not survive,” said Dr. Janet Taylor for Ebony Magazine.

During the period of slavery, any signs of “weakness” resulted in harsh and sometimes brutal consequences for those of color. Suppressing these emotions as if they do not exist is a mentality African Americans have been carrying from generation to generation.

There is a difference in black people hiding emotions during slavery, and hiding emotions while being depressed. The cover-up of feelings during slavery was to protect black people from those who antagonized them. The cover-up of feelings during depression is to protect them from personals fears on how they will no longer be viewed as “strong” but rather “weak”.

Black people have maintained an image of always standing tall. Dating back to the slavery, black people can be seen as a race who together pushes past adversity in a society which constantly pushes against them.

Black people have gone through slavery, civil rights, racially motivated police brutality and a corrupt justice system that tends to work against those of color. African Americans have faced each one of these problems head-on with a brave heart. Why are mental illnesses like depression are not faced with the same courageous harmony?

In the black community, some but not all, associate being depressed with being weak minded. This opinion forms a misconception about mental health conditions, making it difficult to recognize the signs and symptoms. Although many times, when signs and symptoms are clear African Americans are still likely to keep quiet about the matter.

The lack of acknowledgment and education of mental health conditions can lead to underestimating the true effect of having a mental illness. Sometimes being depressed can be a one time feeling due to a specific occurrence, but it can also be a feeling that seems to always creep back up.

Once the fear of being seen as weak is conquered, African Americans will truly be able to face obstacles thrown their way. Until there is more education and awareness of how having a mental illness does not define a person as a weak minded individual, this bump will forever be in the road.

N.C. A&T students added their thoughts to the #SuicideAwarenessMonth movement, have shown there is a shift occurring in the black community on accepting “it is okay not to be okay.” In fact, on-campus organizations like Active Minds and The G.R.E.E.N Umbrella Project, provide safe spaces to talk and learn about the importance of mental health.

If you ever feel that you may be depressed, know it does not have to be hidden and support is out there, and once more as they say, “it is okay not to be okay.”

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