The Holidays are upon us and it's supposed to be a time of rejoicing and spending quality time with loved ones. Still and all, this season can trigger painful memories and exacerbate depressive moods in some individuals. In the African-American community, mental health is a taboo subject and it is often stigmatized and not taken seriously until its effects are life-threatening or fatal. We should be our brother's and sister's keeper and it pays to know that even though some of us may not personally deal with depression or the effects of traumatic experiences but a loved one may need our assistance. Let's delve into some ways we can empower ourselves and each other. Take care of your body and mind. We live in a busy world and it's palpable to put ourselves on the backburner in order to cater to other's needs nonetheless, we need to be in tune with our mental health status and the changes in our bodies that may be a detriment to our health. It's imperative we're able to drown out the distractions and become one with ourselves. …show more content…
The initial step in solving a challenge is recognizing and accepting that there's a problem, to begin with. You can't conquer an issue if you're in denial about it. Get that nagging pain checked out, converse with a trusted source about the traumatic issue you've kept buried inside. Yes, we're derived from a lineage of strong and perseverant peoples but we still need to accept that potency comes in unique forms and having a mental challenge doesn't diminish your worth as a person. Take the mask off and get the help you