Real Life Real Faith Men of Faith September Issue | Page 11

in a way. For example with depression one may become withdrawn from people or
activities; with anxiety one may constantly worry which may cause that person to avoid
people or activities. Think about the mental illness of depression which in many men of
color goes untreated. What effect does depression have on your mind and your ability
to function normally in day-to-day activities? We must be very honest with our answers
to this question. Depression leads people to be trapped in their own mind and life
becomes very complicated…especially if the depression goes untreated. The
communities of people of color often downplay mental illnesses such as depression and
we tend to not seek the professional help needed to manage the symptoms of the
illness. We prefer to silently suffer than to seek the help that will allow for normal
functionality.
Now remember what I said about swamps and rivers as we look further into the effects
that mental illnesses tend to have on people lives. Mental illnesses lead you to
becoming more like a swamp. Mental illnesses that go untreated can lead to
consequences that negatively impact your life. Mental illnesses lead a person that was
once vibrant and full of life, like that river, to become secluded and unpleasant, like that
swamp. It is very important that the African American and other minority communities
understand that the topic of mental health has to be addressed and it needs to be
discussed in great detail within our communities in order for everyone to be educated
on what the mental illnesses are, what the signs and symptoms of them are, and how to
treat them. The taboo behind mental illnesses in our communities needs to be
overcome. You are not crazy if you have a mental illness. You are not a monster if you
have mental illness. It’s ok to seek help.
Just because you have a mental illness doesn’t mean that it is the end of the world. Men
are prideful creatures that take pride in strength and courage. It takes a strong and
courageous man to face the fact that he may be suffering from a mental illness. As we
all know mental illnesses can be treated, but if you choose not to do something about it
by not seeking help more problems will more than likely occur in your life. Remember
mental illnesses have an effect on your mood, thinking, and behavior. Admitting that
you have a mental illness is the first step to recovery. The second step, however, is the
most important step but oftentimes go unmade in men of color and that is actually
seeking help to rehabilitate your mind. To fix a mind that has now become a swamp,