The Differences of Depression

African Americans experience very similar mental health disorders as do other minorities and even their white counterparts, however, with disorders such as depression, the cause of those disorders is very different.  Studies have shown:

The disparities in mental health for African Americans are based on factors of economics and cultural experiences.

These factors negatively influence the African American psyche, however, because much of the African American population lives on or around the poverty line, their ability to gain medical help for their mental issues is very minimal.  Apart from not having access to help, the African American culture relies heavily on fixing your issues for yourself and not asking for help, unless under dire circumstances.  This would force an individual to try and talk themselves out of their depression; however, with that state of mind it would be nearly impossible to do so.  Finally, the prominence of religion in the African American community plays a large factor in why some individuals would choose not to seek medical attention:

Many people who could benefit from professional mental health care are urged to rely on faith and prayer much more than therapy. In many instances, seeking counseling is considered a sign of a lack of faith in God and the healing power of divine intervention.

Within the majority of all cultures, there seems to be a stigma in general over mental disorders, which makes it uncomfortable for individuals who suffer from such problems to seek help.  Hopefully in the future people will realize that with the help of safe drugs and alternative lifestyles, disorders such as depression will be completely treatable.  

Sexual Expectations

Sex is definitely subliminally and subconsciously all around us, but it isn’t something that we choose to openly talk about.  An active sex life, however, is always important to maintain a happy relationship.  As all individuals get older, maintaining that sexual drive can be difficult and essentially harm a person’s desire to partake in such moments out of pure frustration. 

A majority of older Americans are sexually active and view intimacy as an important part of life, despite a high rate of "bothersome" sexual problems, according to a new report in the Aug. 23, 2007, issue of "The New England Journal of Medicine".

Being responsible during one’s youth can definitely help and prevent sexual problems in ones elder years.  HIV and AIDS has become sort of an epidemic in the African American community.  A completely preventable and very deadly disease, HIV increasing affects the lives of the black community. And even though new technology and drugs have been implemented to slow down the signs and symptoms of the HIV virus, the risk of getting some other disease with the lowered immune system is inevitable.

Although data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests stability in HIV diagnoses among Americans aged 50 and older, the number of older people diagnosed with AIDS and living with HIV is increasing, as individuals who were infected with HIV at younger ages are living longer before progressing to AIDS. However, sexual activity among older adults poses risks for new cases of HIV, as approximately 15 percent of newly diagnosed HIV infections are among Americans over age 50.

As long as people are smart about their sexual encounters when they’re younger, their love lives when they get older should remain just as enjoyable of an event.  Even more exciting:

But with the emergence of popular ED drugs like Viagra® and Cialis®, and Viagra-like drugs for women that help increase lubrication -- African-Americans between ages 55 and 65 are groovin' more than ever.

The Healing Powers of Spirituality

The role that spirituality and the church plays in the African American culture is quite immense.  Especially when it comes to the healthcare, African American communities find it very beneficial to express their needs and concerns with their spiritual communities. 

Physical healing can actually take place by sharing your physical challenges and fears with your church leadership, friends and family. Suffering in silence may be a badge of honor to some, but it goes totally against biblical principles.

Although religion isn’t something solely designated to the African American community, it remains to be a strong bond within the individuals and acts as one of the largest activities that brings the community together.  Especially for those individuals who find it difficult to voice their true feelings, particularly when those feelings may ask or require help from others, religion and a church community can be the perfect “safe place” for those people to ask for help and know that they will not being looked down upon or berated for their prayers.

Too often people that need the most help, are the ones who are least likely to share their difficulties. They feel as though they’re being a burden, so they try not to let anyone know what they’re going through. They don’t want to be an inconvenience to anyone. Their response to the question "is everything okay"? is usually answered with "I’m doing well, please don’t worry about me", or "I can manage, you don’t have to be bothered with my problems." Sometimes their response is a very prideful "I don’t need any help, I’m fine." I’m sure we can all relate the feeling that it would just be easier to "be quiet" and ride it out.

On of the biggest parts of being a part of a spiritual community is not just asking for help, but also offering help before that help is even asked for.  People begin to believe in the system when they know they are getting something out of it. 

Physical healing as well as a good mental attitude is contingent upon getting others involved. Take it upon yourself to help those seniors who you feel may need of support by initiating conversations and companionship. We all respond well to someone who cares. Don’t let anyone suffer in silence. All they may be looking for is a good conversation and a little company. You may be just the voice they need.

Your Responsibility for Good Health

Although we often look to the healthcare system to fix us, and many African Americans hold a strong distrust with the system, it is very easy for those individuals to blame the failing US healthcare system for their declining health statuses.  Once an individual is sick, it is important to seek medical attention, but it is most important for the individual himself to remain active in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

We are living in an age of fast pace movement and convenience.  More often than not, we don’t have time to make a meal and sit altogether at the dinner table together, but it is important to remember a culture’s roots:

           

Struggle, patience, self–discipline and personal responsibility have been virtues in the Black community since we arrived on these shores. These same virtues are essential for our good health. Without them we become prey to the perils of "conveniences" that can kill us.

Examples such as eating fast food, driving everywhere, taking elevators, are all recent advances in society that haven’t necessarily benefited any community, especially the African American community in any way.  One of the major stereotypes of African Americans is that they are lazy and don’t want to work to benefit from what society has to offer, and by indulging in these “conveniences” it only perpetuates these stereotypes.  This wishful thinking creates a mindset in the African American community that they can achieve the American Dream that they were promised, without having to actually work hard for it.

The road for Black people has always been uphill and the climb toward good health is full of distractions and temptations. But it can become an exciting and rewarding journey with commitment and perseverance.

By taking the extra time to make ones own meal, or take the stairs and walk the extra steps to get to where one is headed, the health benefits are endless.   With the distrust that the African American community feels, taking the extra time will decrease their necessity to visit such individuals, increasing the emotional capabilities of everyone. 

What's Wrong With American Healthcare?

The healthcare system in the United States is put in place and said to be an effective source for healthcare needs for the entirety of the population.  However, research has proven that minorities, especially including African Americans, are more unlikely to seek medical attention when needed as compared to other groups, specifically their white counterparts. 

           

According to an AARP report (May 2002) on health and insurance coverage, Hispanics and African Americans aged 50-64 were more likely than their white cohorts to not have seen a health care professional in the past year.  While one in 10 whites aged 50 to 64 are uninsured, the rate for Hispanics is one in three and for African Americans one in five.

Many scholars would link this ratio to being typical of the immigrant in America, who are often faced with barriers which block them from benefiting as they should from the US healthcare system.  These barriers could include a language barrier, informality with newer technology and its medical benefits, among many others.  Typecasting African Americans into that immigrant culture, however, does not question the feeling of mistrust that many African Americans feel about the healthcare systems and the individuals involved in it. 

African Americans are more likely than Caucasians to mistrust the health care system and its providers.

Specifically, surveys have been conducted to address the African American suspect of healthcare individuals and reports found that:

African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanics are more likely than whites to experience difficulty communicating with their physician.

It is unfortunate that, still today, racial differences affect decisions that could be detrimental to someone’s wellbeing.  It would be nice to say that each person is granted the same access and service, especially in this sort of institution, and the US has come a long way from the Civil Rights Movement and separate-but-equal, but we clearly have a long way to go. 

The Female Caregiver

The aging process requires a lot of help.  Many elders look to the younger generations in their families to help them and support them, however it seems that in the African American community, the caregiver role has become a fulltime job.  Especially for African American females, research has show that compared to their Caucasian counterparts

Informal caregiving, or non-professional, unpaid care occurs in 29.4%* of Black families in the United States, compared to 24% of White households.

These numbers, although they may seem only very slightly stratified, prove to be very hindering on the African American female.  Whereas white women tend to care for their immediate families only, African American women are likely to take care of their immediate families, as well as distant relatives and even individuals not related to them at all.  These women are certainly doing a great service to those individuals, however, studies have proven that the effects of this caregiving on the caregiver are very damaging to the African American woman’s wellbeing.

According to NAC, African-American women caregivers are more likely to experience physical strain (19%), emotional stress, and experience financial hardships (63%).

Because these individuals are overexerting their energy on positions that offer very little benefits financially, studies have proven that these women caregivers are usually hold no higher than a high school level education, if they reached that far in school at all, and have a household income level extremely close to the poverty rate. 

African American women take on their caregiver role for a number of reasons.  Firstly, their culture has taught them that they are almost required to act that role.  They are told at a young age where their places were to be in society and in their immediate families, that often times, it is difficult for them to break through those molds.  Feeling trapped in such a confined position can be detrimental to the emotional and physical status of African American women, many have found prayer and expressing their distress to their family and friends to be very beneficial. 

   Before diving into serious topics about inequalities and oppression that the African American community is faced with, I came across an interesting article literally about the aging process of African Americans; literally meaning the physical appearance of aging seen on the face of African Americans.  Being half black, throughout my life I have been presented with compliments of my unique skin tone and, although at 21 I don't quite yet see it as a good thing, the fact that I look like I'm very young.  This seemingly nonexistent aging process that African Americans face definitely has its advantages, however, I have recently learned that the appearance of African Americans may be closer to the Asian culture than I thought.
   American Society of Plastic Surgeons Member (ASPS), Julius Few, MD, asserts:

African Americans have a slight slant to their eyes, much like Asians do but not as pronounced.  During aging, we found not only do the outer corners of the eyes of African Americans droop lower than Caucasians, they also droop sooner. 

According to a study done on the aging of African Americans, Few and other surgeons determined that this slight slant in the eye shape increased the speed of wrinkles to the area, which in turn creates under-eye bags and other aging side effects.  Especially in a society today that is focused to heavily on beauty and the idea of maintaining ones youth, eyelid cosmetic surgery has increased in the elder African American community.  The only problem with that, however, Few points out:

...one of the biggest concerns African American women have is their tendency to show scars. 

Thankfully modern medicine has managed to remedy this dilemma with new technologies.  With noninvasive surgeries becoming more and more common and accessible, the gap between the youth and the elder African American populations is going to be harder and harder to differentiate.