The Stigma Of Being Black?
Stigma is usually something we think about when the conversation is related to mental health issues, not Black Lives Matter.
What Stigma Means:
1.) A Mark Of Disgrace Associated With A Particular Circumstance, Quality, or Person.
2.) If something has a stigma attached to it, people think it is something to be ashamed of.
I will never forget the day when I wasn't feeling well at a Starbucks when I started having an anxiety (panic,) attack. The reason I will never forget that day is because a man yelled at me, while I was experiencing an anxiety (panic,) attack.
"You're Mental," he yelled at me - not once, but three times he yelled out the words "You're Mental." Imagine hearing those words yelled at you, how would they make you feel??
The next time, you think about or hear someone talking about stigma, Please Think About Black Lives Matter.
If you stigmatize someone, you have given that person a label — and it's usually a label that is limiting in some way. ... In the 1500s, the word stigmatize meant literally "to brand or tattoo." Nowadays, to stigmatize is to shame or brand a person in a more symbolic way.
Applying stigmas and the stigmatizing of African Americans has led to - the killings of too many people like George Floyd, by police officers who have formed and applied their own stigmas against people they know nothing about.
Why did I choose the word stigma?? Because I want all who read this post, especially police officers who may be dealing with their own issues of mental health issues, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety etc - I want you to know I am you.
I know what it is like to be alone in your thoughts when dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc. I know, how hurt you must feel, in losing your sense of belonging to something (the police force,) even if this loss of belonging is only temporary, that doesn't mean the pain you feel is not real and only temporary.
I know how angry and frustrated you can feel at times, because you're having to adjust to your new life, a life that now includes anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc. I also know you know, having to deal with a mental health issue can have you stigmatizing (judging,) yourself.
And there is no doubt in my mind that some of you may be stigmatized, by the very own members of your police force, that unfortunately do not understand the pain, anguish, sadness, you have to deal with in dealing with your own mental health struggles.
There are people of all colours, that make up who police officers and police forces are. Just as there are people of all colours that have to deal with mental health issues. You, me and others that are dealing with these issues of mental health, are also people who belong to communities, that make up our cities and countries and one of those communities is the many African Americans ones, that add value to our cities and countries in which we live and call home.
My hope is that if you choose to only see one thing about people (you being police and us being civilians,) I hope that you choose to see what you may have in common with someone, rather than what you don't.
One-Third of all police officers will be affected by mental health issues, as a result of you performing your job and the duties associated with that job. One-third of all police officers on a police force will experience anxiety, depression and PTSD, and 22 percent of police officers experiencing PTSD, will attempt suicide.
Why am I bring this to your attention if your reading this and you are a police officer because this is one of the commonalities you share with African American Community Members. They too have high numbers of some of the exact same mental health issues that police officers are facing - high levels of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.
So next time your out doing the impossible and making our cities safe for all of us, and you happen to see an African American Male, just remember he could be going through the exact same thing you are dealing with when it comes to mental health. They know and have experienced the same pain, mental and emotional suffering, the loneliness, etc; that you must feel at times because they too are experiencing it, and because of their shared experiences, they are better able to understand you as a person.
By looking for the commonalities, that we share in life with another person, it is only then that we will be able to lay the first brick, that is necessary for our collective effort to build a bridge of understanding, that will eventually enable us to cross over the gaps that still separate us all.
