Health

Mamas, Memories and Black Mental Health

Published

5 years ago

May 21, 2019

Mother’s Day and Memorial Day are celebrated in May, which can trigger many emotions: we must remember we don’t have to take them on without help. It is significant then, that this month is also Mental Health Awareness Month.

While western ideals deem emotions and feelings as irrational distractions that can be resolved with logic, there is no duality within an African way of knowing. In her formative book, “Yurugu: An African Critique of European Thought,” Dr. Marimba Ani, an associate member of the ABPsi, reminds us that the rational and emotional are together. The “thinking” parts are in accord with the “feeling” parts of ourselves. We are a spiritual people and our involvement with the universe builds our inner knowing.

As a child, when my emotional vibrations grew too strong, “Mama and DEMM”, the women and elders of the family, were quick to issue a prescription. In Black Psychology, Dr. Baba Wade Nobles has helped us to see that DEMM was not a mispronunciation of “them” but a deep recognition of our sacredness. DEMM stood for “Divine Energy Made Manifest.”

I remember Mama and DEMM would say, “Go outside and sit down somewhere!” They knew that being in harmony with Mama Nature (the outside) would re-stabilize my disharmonizing vibrations.

Connecting with Mama Earth by walking barefoot is known to have even more healing benefits. In “The Healing Wisdom of Africa,” spiritual practitioner Patrice Malidoma Some reminds us, “Every tree, plant, hill, mountain, rock, and each thing that was here before us emanates or vibrates at a subtle energy that has healing power. If something in us must change, spending time in nature provides a good beginning.”

Although I did not realize it at the time, Mama and DEMM’s intention was to ensure I came back feeling better than before I left. I echo these same sentiments to my seeds: children and have rekindled a relationship this year with the outdoors that is renewing and revitalizing.

I bought a few plants, no longer sleep near my phone, and expanded my “social network” to include the birds, bees, and others critters I used to shoo away. I even went camping for the first time! Lesson learned: the wisdom of our Mamas and the reason for Mother’s Day being everyday.

Nowadays, compulsively tied to our phones and social media, we suffer from FOMO, “Fear of Missing Out, which is correlated with anxiety and feelings of worthlessness on top of the usual health risks associated with urban living: stress, diabetes, inactivity.

According to the Office of Minority Health, African Americans are 20% more likely than the general population to experience mental health problems, such as Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Rates of suicide have also increased by 25% in the Black community, and are most troubling in our youth and young adults. While being in nature can provide respite, seeking out the help of a professional mental health practitioner may be necessary.

Western (white) psychology is just now coming to appreciate the ancient African understanding that one past president of the ABPsi, Dr. Mwata Kevin Washington, called Ntu, African Deep Thought that recognized the common spirit in humans, nature and the Divine.

However, Black psychology and DEMM Black psychologists have known for a long time that simply walking in nature or bathing in the sacred salty waters of Mama Yẹmọnja has been associated with preventing disorders (depression, etc.) by being in accord:alignment:harmony with the rhythms of nature and limiting the intake of negative thoughts spiraling through one’s mind.

Our “spiritness” is grounded in life-energy within, around and throughout us on multidimensional levels.

In a time overwhelmed with negativity and consumed by technological addiction, the need to unplug and venture into the universe.

*These monthly articles on Black Mental Health issues are written by members of the Bay Area Chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi-Bay Area).

ABPsi-Bay Area is a healing resource and is committed to providing the Post Newspaper readership with monthly discussions about critical issues in Black Mental Health.

We can be contacted at (bayareaabpsi@gmail.com) and readers are welcome to join with us at our monthly chapter and board meeting, every third Saturday at the West Oakland Youth Center from 10am – 12pm.

Sayoko Duhe Watson, M.A.

Bay Area Chapter of the ABPsi, Member

Posts by Sayoko Duhe Watson, M.A.

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Community

Report: Black Women Doctors are Underrepresented in Health Care Sector

Physician retention in California has decreased over the years for women doctors of color, a report by the Physicians for a Healthy California stated. According to the report, women physicians are more likely to experience burnout than their male counterparts, a trend that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published

16 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Oakland Post

The report states that Black and Latino physicians are underrepresented in the healthcare industry. Only 2.8% of physicians are Black and 5.5% are Latino across the state of California.

By California Black Media

Physician retention in California has decreased over the years for women doctors of color, a report by the Physicians for a Healthy California stated.

According to the report, women physicians are more likely to experience burnout than their male counterparts, a trend that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report states that Black and Latino physicians are underrepresented in the healthcare industry. Only 2.8% of physicians are Black and 5.5% are Latino across the state of California.

It also noted that women doctors of color are often assigned to serve in vulnerable and under-resourced communities.

“It is critical for health care organizations to implement effective strategies focused on the retention of this important group of clinicians,” the report stated.

Women doctors of color face career dissatisfaction, contributing to the low retention rates in California’s healthcare industry. The burnout particularly experienced by female doctors of color stems from workplace harassment and perceived lack of value at work.

Additionally, moral injury was another key factor driving women physicians of color away from the workforce. Unlike burnout, moral injury is defined as “the betrayal of what’s right by someone who holds legitimate authority in a high-stakes situation.”

Currently, two of the nine California regions used in the framework of the report — the Inland Empire and San Joaquin Valley — have less than 50 primary care doctors. Physician shortages are projected to get worse over the next few years.

By 2030, the report indicates, the demand for physicians will exceed the supply by at least 12%.

Oakland Post

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Community

Gov. Newsom, Attorney General Bonta Back Bill to Allow California to Host Arizona Abortion Care

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced last week that they are backing a bill introduced by the state legislative women’s caucus that would allow Arizona-based doctors to provide abortion care in California to patients from Arizona. Senate Bill (SB) 233 was authored in response to the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision on April 9 that an 1864 ban on abortion in the state is enforceable.

Published

17 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Oakland Post

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta.

By California Black Media

Senate Bill (SB) 233 was authored in response to the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision on April 9 that an 1864 ban on abortion in the state is enforceable. The bill also aims to counter growing support for anti-abortion legislation in states with Republican-majority legislatures since Roe v. Wade was overturned, according to supporters.

“California will not sit idly by. We’re urgently moving legislation to allow Arizona doctors to provide safe and reliable reproductive care to Arizonans here in California,” Newsom said.

Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus said that abortion bans are based on laws that set women back to a time when they had limited human rights.

“Anti-abortion forces have resurrected a dead law passed at a time when women couldn’t vote and husbands beating their wives was lawful,” Skinner said.

On April 24, the Arizona House of Representatives voted to repeal the 1864 abortion ban. It now moves to the Arizona Senate for deliberation.

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

Mind, Body, and Spiritual Well-Being for Women Addressed in NAACP Forum in Oakland

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is proud to announce the upcoming “Total You – Mind, Body, and Spirit Women’s Health Forum” scheduled for April 27 at Acts Full Gospel Church. Running from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1034 66th Ave., this forum aims to provide an empowering platform for women to engage in discussions, gain knowledge, and access resources pertaining to their health and well-being.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

The panel will address various aspects of women’s health, including physical, mental and emotional well-being and relationships. iStock photo by Jorge Elizaquibel.

Special to The Post

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is proud to announce the upcoming “Total You – Mind, Body, and Spirit Women’s Health Forum” scheduled for April 27 at Acts Full Gospel Church.

Running from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1034 66^th Ave., this forum aims to provide an empowering platform for women to engage in discussions, gain knowledge, and access resources pertaining to their health and well-being.

The forum will feature renowned experts, healthcare professionals, and advocates from Genentech, John Muir Health, Sutter Health of The East Bay, Kaiser Permanente, and the Alameda County Public Health Department.

Our expert panel will address various aspects of women’s health, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and healthy relationships. The forum will encompass a wide range of topics such as breast cancer, menopause, reproductive health, nutrition, mental health awareness, preventive care, and much more.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend informative sessions, interactive workshops, and panel discussions led by experts in their respective fields. Additionally, there will be wellness activities, screenings, and informational booths offering valuable resources and support.

This forum is open to women of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging inclusivity and diversity in the conversation surrounding women’s health. Whether you’re seeking information for yourself, a loved one, or simply looking to connect with other women, this event promises to be enlightening and empowering.

For more information and to register for the Total You Women’s Health Forum, please visit https://www.naacpoakland.org/ or contact Dr. Delores Thompson. WIN chairwoman at (510) 328-3638.

The Women In The NAACP Oakland Branch is dedicated to empowering women, and young teen girls. We look forward to your participation in this important event.

To register, go to https://www.naacpoakland.org/events/the-total-you-womens-health-forum