Black Mental Health: Part 1

By Tanya Dennis

April 2020, Oakland Black nonprofits and medical doctors formed a collaborative organization entitled Oakland Frontline Healers (OFH) to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its detrimental effects in the Black community. Oakland Frontline Healers ran toward the problem, providing PPE, testing, vaccines and services. Committed to providing the best knowledge and service, OFH member Umoja Health stopped giving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine because of its lack of efficacy after 60 days.

“We are unapologetically Black in all that we do,” says Daryle Allums, founder of OFH. “We are from the hood and for the hood, committed to healing our people during stressful times and hardships.”

As Oakland Frontline Healer members distributed food, housing vouchers, COVID-19 home test kits and other living essentials, reports of escalating violence and mental health episodes caused members to assess their next frontline mission. Black Mental Health won overwhelmingly.

“We got youngsters out here wilding out, and we can’t let the police be the only solution,” says Allums, adding that “We’re also addressing violence. Soon Oakland will see more of Adamika Village and Men of Influence’s Credible Messengers patrolling the flatlands.”

OFH members have been meeting with the Bay Area Association of Black Psychologists, and with the aid of Dr. Noha Aboelata of ROOTS, are creating holistic approaches to bringing solid, ethnically sensitive mental health services with fast response. As usual, securing funding is the number one obstacle, number two is finding enough qualified practioners. Dr Aboelata mused that “Developing a training program for more Black service providers is something we must consider.”

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OFH hopes to establish two African American healing hubs, in West and East Oakland. They are also working on a larger center that will take years because of its complexity and scope, being led by the Association of Black Psychologists. The Black Mental Health Coalition project will address needs of people not on the County of Alameda’s radar.

“Currently the only place the County offers mental evaluations is in Santa Rita jail, and to be seen by a therapist, your illness must be severe. That profile misses 75% of Black people that could use some help with their stress or crisis. Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome is real, and COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem,” says, Tanya Dennis, lead facilitator of OFH.

“There are few places for Black folks to go when they’re in crisis, and available services are hard to access. When in crisis, people must trust the person offering assistance, and in the Black community its usually a person who doesn’t look like them. Despite best of intentions, not everyone can relate to our experience with America,” says Dr. Tony Jackson of Pranamind and President of the Bay Area Association of Black Psychologists.

“There’s unspent money at the State and County level, and Federal money is also available,” says Dennis. “We’re approaching these agencies for funding, but our first step is getting community support. Black folks can do that by telling us what they need.”

Dennis is requesting the public go to the OFH website and fill out their Black Mind survey, so leaders know what authentic, relevant service looks like. When the coalition presents to the County, State and Feds the Black collective voice must be heard. United, African Americans can get what has so long been denied, mental health care culturally sensitive and restorative.

Go to Oaklandfrontlinehealers.org to take the survey and opportunity to tell your story.

Interview with Karyn Tribble, Alameda County Behavorial Health and Dr. Noha Aboelata

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