When it comes to mental health, African-Americans face the same challenges as the rest of the country.
Those challenges, however, are often compounded by additional stressors such as racial prejudice and economic disparities, particularly high unemployment.
Experts note that some serious mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are often genetically based, while others, such as alcoholism and addictions, can be triggered by social and economic factors.
“Sometimes they can be an offshoot of problems in the community, such as unemployment, crime and people coming out of the correctional system who are not able to fully integrate back into society and cope by gravitating toward alcohol or substance abuse,” said Dr. Shelvy Keglar, founding president of Indianapolis based Midwest Psychological Center Inc., which provides a variety of mental health services, from addictions and child and adult counseling, to forensic and residential services.
Studies reveal that there are various factors that can keep many African-Americans from getting the professional assistance they need.
These factors can include cultural stigmas in the Black community surrounding mental health, the inability of some to afford treatment, concerns about the effectiveness of treatment and the relatively low number of minorities in the mental health profession.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), only 2 percent of psychiatrists, 2 percent of psychologists and 4 percent of social workers in the United States are African-American.
“The key is prevention,” Keglar said. “Awareness and acceptance of counseling have improved over the last 15 to 20 years, but more prevention is needed, especially among our youth.”
Despite the possible barriers to treatment, Keglar said getting direction from a mental health professional is the best course of action when it appears a loved one may be struggling with a mental disorder.
“It is good to at least talk to someone about how to best approach the problem,” he said. “That is better than ignoring it, thinking it will go away or thinking that you can handle it. There are several health groups and hotlines that you can contact for advice.”
Despite the complications of improper diagnosis and treatment that can occasionally occur, there is hope that anyone can overcome a mental health problem, even one that is severe. The following stories provide examples of those who have been impacted by mental illness, two of which have successfully overcome their condition.
The Artist
Beverly Thurman had a nice career as a psychiatric social worker, until she took the brave but unpredictable step of launching her own enterprise.
The business, however, was not immediately profitable. Thurman’s money eventually ran out, she was evicted from her home and had to live with various relatives. The stress of the situation brought out symptoms of bipolar disorder, which Thurman did not know she had at the time.
“I wasn’t talking or eating much, and basically would stay in one spot on most days,” Thurman recalled. “I didn’t realize I was sick, and neither did my family.”
Thurman’s family did help her get treatment and she was given medication to address her symptoms. Life seemed to be improving when she moved to Virginia to accept a new job.
Once again, financial difficulties forced Thurman to end the psychiatric treatment she was receiving and quit her medication.
“I had visions of heaven and the world coming to an end,” Thurman said. “I saw myself as an overseer of people, and believed we had to get ready to take a plane to heaven.”
Fortunately, Thurman decided to return to Indianapolis, where she resumed treatment, found another job and is now doing much better with medication. She volunteers time as an artist with the Creating Hope program, which provides hope to patients at Indiana University Health’s Simon Cancer Center.
“Now I realize what I was dealing with, because I understand the symptoms,” Thurman said. My advice is don’t be afraid to get help. It is important to recognize the symptoms and get advice, otherwise your situation won’t improve.”
The Author
Some may remember Carol Evans’ son, Derek Dewitt, as the driver who ran over a Plainfield mother and daughter in May 2010, while the two were participating in a car wash fundraiser for a nearby school on East 56th Street near Kessler Boulevard.
According to statements made to police at the time, he intentionally sped up his SUV and struck the 43-year-old woman and her 15-year-old daughter, who were standing on the median.
Evans, however, said there is so much more to know about her son, now 45, including the fact that he has been struggling with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
“That disease tells people things that make them paranoid. They think someone is after them or a threat,” Evans said. “In all these years no one in the mental health profession has been able to help my son became stable.”
Evans added that her son started out with positive potential and much to offer the world.
“He was an easy child to raise, and never got in trouble with the law,” she said. “As an adult he attended church, didn’t even drink or smoke and had good friends. He introduced us to Spike Lee, and attended a political event for (Congressman) André Carson. He enjoyed being around successful people and they enjoyed being around him. “
Dewitt graduated from Morehouse College, and was ready to begin law school when symptoms of his disorder prevented him from attending.
“It was then that we noticed something was wrong,” Evans said. “My husband and I did everything we could to help even though we were far away. We moved him to a residential facility, but when this disease came on, he just started getting into trouble, and we couldn’t protect him.”
Dewitt was arrested for an incident at an Atlanta airport where his involvement is still under debate, but he was able to return to Indianapolis to rebuild his life.
Evans said shortly before the 2010 incident her son was under severe stress, mostly due to moving and attempts to find a job, which could have aggravated his condition. He will go to trial in October.
Evans, in the meantime, will soon release a book about her family’s experience entitled The Journey of a Lifetime.
“There is much more to my son than what happened on that day,” she said. “When you have a mental illness, you can stumble into trouble. I encourage families to be observant of the behavior of their loved ones, and be watchful for anything out of the ordinary.”
The Champion
William Dale, who was born William Tellfair, dealt with abuse as a child. Lacking strong family support, Dale grew up around poverty and crime, and was carrying a gun by age 9. He also became known for his aggressive and destructive behavior, and was admitted to both Larue Carter and Central State hospitals. At 14, however, Dale was dismissed from treatment.
“No one could control me, I was mean and violent,” he said.
As soon as he was released, Dale got back into trouble, threatening to kill a school teacher, causing a disturbance at a grocery store and committing burglary, which landed him in prison for three years.
Upon his release in 1975 at age 21, Dale received mentoring by local police officers who worked with the Indianapolis Police Athletic League, also known as the PAL Club. One of the officers was the late boxing coach Colion “Champ” Chaney, who trained many successful fighters from the area.
With Chaney’s guidance. Dale won two Indiana state boxing championships during the late 1970s, and another in Illinois.
“It wasn’t a program or anything like that, but Jesus Christ and those men who took time to work with me that straightened me out,” Dale said.
Seeking to give back what had been given to him, Dale became a boxing coach himself, working with youth in the PAL Club and Pike High School School. Recently, he shared his life story with students at Christamore House, and is currently employed with Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital.
“My message is one of hope,” Dale said. “No matter how bad your situation may be there is a way out. If I can make it, anyone can.”
Note: In last week’s installment of this series the Recorder listed Dr. Frankie Cooper as a psychiatrist. She is actually a psychologist.
