SUMMARY AND RESOURCES
What are the collateral consequences for the African American community during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Robinson: The African American Church is the gathering center during the times of a crisis. Yet, the physical distancing is counter-intuitive to the historical experience of The Church. This time is now calling The Church to find another way to remain connected.
Jones: For marginalized communities, they already have less academic resources. This pandemic causes more challenges in academic learning and retention of information.
Purnell: This is an opportunity for us to get it right in becoming self-sustaining. We can transform the community during this “cocoon” state.
Brown: Remember our Black businesses, especially the Black-owned restaurants, and ensure that we have the infrastructure in place to support them when the pandemic ends.
What are the mental health challenges that we are seeing in the African American community?
Carter: We are seeing an increase in stress, anxiety, and constant worry. There are many individuals that have changes in their sleep and eating patterns and difficulty in concentrating and focusing. For Black people, we already have been living with worry and anxiety due to financial or employment insecurity. There is going to be collateral damage in our community but what are we learning? God is making us be still. Technology and social media show that we truly want to socially connect in a physical scenario. We cannot function without each other. We are craving each other.
Brown: The mental health strain is real. Remember our ancestors and history. We have a history of survival, resistance, and being self-sufficient. This is an opportunity for transformation and reconnection to the ways and traditions of our elders. We will thrive beyond this.
What are the strengths and vulnerabilities around isolation, physical distancing, limited assembly, and quarantine?
Jones: Young people are fully engaged in technology. However, IEPs have to take place in a school setting. There are challenges in implementing an IEP at home because parents are not trained in teaching the subjects in the same manner as teachers. Parents also have to navigate fear in their households. Many Black children have parents who are essential employees and now older children are taking care of younger siblings. This is a time for innovation but there are still many vulnerabilities that we have to acknowledge when we think about our young people.
Carter: There are many parents who are essential employees. They are now burdened to oversee the education of their children when they get home from work. Even parents with college education are struggling with the current method of teaching. Also, multiple computers are needed now in the household in order to complete online assignments.
Robinson: We have to make meaning during times of despair. Making meaning is part of our resilience.
Purnell: The “big picture” piece in this moment is purpose. What is our purpose for our children? We cannot pass on a process that has not worked. This wheel is broken and there is no fixing. We have to define our divine purpose. We have to show our children that they are valuable enough to be loved and help them identify their divine gifts. Help them activate their gifts. This is nation building time. We have to step into this new world order in a different way.
Brown: There comes a time to shut down the noise to make room to be creative. This can become overwhelming but we can still come together to help each other via technology, such as having virtual freedom schools.
How does intimate partner violence (domestic violence) play out during the pandemic especially with the shelter-in-place orders?
Carter: Before the pandemic, abusers would isolate their victims and gaslight them. (Gaslight - abusers make the victim believe that their reality is not the truth or a particular situation did not occur.) The pandemic gives abusers more leverage to isolate and victimize their partner. To combat that, victims need to virtually reach out to family and friends. If possible, get to a shelter solely dedicated to helping victims of intimate partner abuse.
House of Ruth is still open and serving victims.
What are the spiritual and mental health hygiene prescriptions and solutions?
**RESOURCES**
Purnell: We are valuable enough to be loved. We are survivors of trauma. Unfortunately, we have skipped past healing. The pandemic allows us to create space for healing. As a family activity, make a collage or picture book about the best moments in the life of the family. Check out
The Love More Movement for more strategies in creating virtual brave spaces during the pandemic that will lead to healing and reconciliation
Jones: This is an opportunity to enjoy family time and create new memories. Have dance parties. Do child-play with all the family members. Give yourself some grace. It is okay to be still and tap into activities that make you happy. It is okay NOT to have major projects (starting a business, creating a blog, etc.) but simply focus on finding your joy. BMHA launched its Youth Wellness Incubator challenge with the ladies of Lillie Mae Carroll Jackson - a Baltimore area Public Charter School serving girls in grades 5-8. This initiative includes a weekly meeting via Zoom on the topic of advocacy and finding your voice. Students are being empowered to identify a problem in their community and then create an out-of-the-box solution. The ladies are starting to dig into their areas of interest, and are planning to present their community solution this summer! Presentations will take place in front of a panel of "sharks" (patterned after the hit TV show
Shark Tank) and students will be awarded a cash prize. Interested in joining this initiative? Reach out to us at
youth@blackmentalhealth.org.
Carter: What parts of normal do we want back after this pandemic? We have an opportunity to rebuild for our communities. Try to slow down a positive and productive activity and bring consciousness to it. That will then make the activity therapeutic. Reconnect to your hobbies. Scroll through the pictures on your phone. Go outside to walk or simply to breathe in fresh air. Rearrange the furniture in your home to get a new perspective. Create new family traditions that lead to reconnection. Reach out to members at your place of worship through a phone call or video chat. When checking on them or friends, do not talk about the pandemic.
iHeal is offering trainings for mental health providers with discounts for BMHA members.
Shepherd:
Hope Health Systems is still in operation and working with clients via tele-health. Call 410-265-8737. Bishop Robinson and Dr. Shepherd co-host
The Spirit in Mind on Praise 106.1 FM. The Spirit in Mind is committed to identifying and discussing the critical collaboration between ministry and mental health awareness. Dr. Shepherd also recommended
Critical Collaboration written by Bishop Robinson. The book addresses the critical need for partnership between pastors and mental health professionals in service to urban African American communities.
