Happy Wednesday. Do a dance or whatever.
The good news is that we're a few days away from another weekend. The bad news is the coochie-grabbing Tangerine Terrorist aka Dumpsterheart Daddy aka The One-Man Cheeto Shitshow aka Papa Mongrel is still a thing and not part of some long, disastrous SNL sketch. You can't win 'em all. Unless you're Janelle Monáe, who cannot lose.
Anyhow, because feelings and emotions and all that stuff are among my favorite non-chicken things to discuss, here's an assemblage of mental health-related essays, articles, interviews, marvelous podcasts, resources, and such for inspiration, education, enlightenment, and getting your mind right on your company's time.
"Things To Consider When Starting Therapy" by Alexander Hardy [Very Smart Brothas]
Your therapist is not there to be your best friend or tell you everything you want to hear.
Given the intimate nature of the client-therapist relationship and the private things you’ll share with your therapist, bonding and developing a warm rapport are natural. Sure, be friendly, cuss like hell and relate over hot comb horror stories. But avoiding a distracting level of personal involvement will help prevent conflicts and confusion about the nature (and limits) of your relationship. Your therapist is providing a service, not working to be the Pam to your Gina.
- Episode 11: "You Good, Man?" [The Extraordinary Negroes]
In this episode, fan favorite and National Suicide Prevention Program Director for the U.S. Department of Defense Nickolas Gaines joins us to discuss Kid Cudi's statement about checking himself into rehab for depression and suicidal thoughts, the pervasiveness and treatment of mental health issues (among Black folks), and much more. Additionally, we discuss the renaissance of great Black television and the controversy around Nate Parker and "The Birth of a Nation."
- "How Gaps In Mental Health Care Play Out In Emergency Rooms" by Shefali Luthra [NPR]
Compared with physically ill patients, people with mental health conditions rely more on the emergency department for treatment and are more often admitted to the hospital from the ER, the scientists found. Also, they tended to be stuck in the ER longer than people who show up in the ER with physical symptoms.
"Patton Oswalt: 'I'll Never Be At 100% Again'" by Jason Zinoman [NY Times]
As serious fans of his comedy know, Mr. Oswalt has suffered from depression, but this, he said, was far worse. “Depression is more seductive,” he said. “Its tool is: ‘Wouldn’t it be way more comfortable to stay inside and not deal with people?’ Grief is an attack on life. It’s not a seducer. It’s an ambush or worse. It stands right out there and says: ‘The minute you try something, I’m waiting for you.’”
"If Black Men Want to Heal Racism’s Wounds, We Can’t Pretend to Be Strong All the Time" by Mychal Denzel Smith [The Nation]
Every day, I was lying to people. Responding to a “How are you?” with “I’m fine” was enough to satisfy most people. The more I lied, the more I wanted to believe the lie—and the less I could. Every time I said I was fine, I saw myself dying. Sometimes I saw myself intentionally crashing my car. Sometimes I saw myself jumping from a tall building, frightened and free, feeling the wind beneath me.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on how he overcame his depression. [Mateusz M]
"A Growing List Of Black Mental Health Resources" by Melissa Kimble [EBONY]
We know that opening up about mental health issues can save a life. While the stigma around the issue can often be swept under the rug in our communities, we are proud to know that there are institutions, organizations and individuals who are committed to helping us with this internal battle.
In honor of #WorldMentalHealthDay, we’ve complied a list of Black owned and focused mental health resources.
MENTAL HEALTH BREAK
Saint Damita Jo Jackson, First of Her Name, She Who Made Rhythm Nation, Dancebreak Slayer, and The Wide-Leg Pants Empress Don Diva, is with child. Nothing was the same.
There is still time to get your life in order.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming:
"Delonte West, Mental Health, and Royce White’s Unpublished Letter to the NBA," by Dave Zirin [The Nation]
This is a deeply distressing situation. It also raises the question about what responsibility the NBA has for the mental health of its current and recently retired players. Did Delonte West have access to psychiatric help as a player? And more importantly, was it made clear that any effort to receive mental-health assistance would not reflect negatively on his opportunities in the league?
"This Documentary Is A Vital Look At Black Mental Health In The U.K.," by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff [The Fader]
When it comes to mental health, there's often a lack of understanding. It’s trying to treat an African problem with a white person’s manual. We are very different. In the film, I pressed on the idea of focusing on religion, because I’ve seen the situation where a lot of African churches will push people away from [medical] help. They’ll tell people, “Pray, pray, pray." But I think to myself, You can’t pray away schizophrenia. This person might have bipolar [disorder]. They might need medication. Don’t get me wrong, I know that people need prayer too — but there should be a balance.
"Kid Cudi, Kehlani and the pervasive sexism surrounding mental health," by Sandra Song [Paper Mag]
However, unlike Cudi, Kehlani was subject to incessant online harassment, made into a recurring joke and told she was hamming it up after her post. She wasn't, and still hasn't been, afforded a fraction of the public support Kid Cudi has accumulated since he bravely shared his note (and undoubtedly saved lives) on Tuesday. In fact, her trauma has resurfaced as yet another joke in the wake of this huge conversation about treatment and self-care.
"Depression feels like decay in real time," by Anthony J. Williams [Medium]
Everyday is a new day. I miss not worrying this frequently. I miss being able to let go more easily. I miss not being in bed all the time. This. Shit. Is. Hard. I’m aware that I need to be more gentle with myself. Yes. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. I’m getting better at asking for help and speaking for my needs. But sometimes I don’t know what I need. And sometimes I just want to sleep.
Have an article, interview, event, video, or other mental health-related content I should know about? Send it our way, please and thank you.
You're so pretty.
Previous reading lists:
Mental Health Reading List #1
Mental Health Reading List #2
Mental Health Reading List #3
New York City-based food-lover Alexander Hardy is the dance captain for Saint Damita Jo Jackson’s royal army and co-host of The Extraordinary Negroes podcast. He is an essayist, freelance copywriter, cultural critic, chicken enthusiast, lupus survivor, mental health advocate and educator who has written for EBONY.com, Eater, Courvoisier, Esquire, The Root, CNN, Gawker, The Huffington Post, Saint Heron, and Very Smart Brothas, among other wonderful outlets. When not writing on TheColoredBoy.com, he enjoys cheese grits, power naps, sweet tea, and all things chicken-related. Alexander does not believe in snow or Delaware. More Alex: The Colored Boy | Twitter | Instagram | Writing Portfolio | Mental Health Work
