05/01/2025
đź’šHappy May! In honor of , here are 5 mental health myths in culture that I strive to debunk daily in my practice:
1. ❌Mental illness is not exclusive to one region or identity! As a Caribbean-American, it’s unfortunately common to be criticized by elders and accused of being “Americanized” anytime a concept, trend, or challenge that’s not exclusive to Caribbean culture is part of our experience.
2. ❌ Respectfully, mental health challenges like stress, anxiety, and depression are not exclusively tied to spirituality or lack thereof. Additional coping methods (and therapy!) are needed IN ADDITION TO prayer.
3. ❌ Contrary to the elders’ beliefs, struggling with anxiety or depression doesn’t mean that you’re mentally weak or not “working hard enough” to fix it. Refer to #2 regarding coping skills and therapy to actively debunk this myth.
4. ❌ Mental illness is NOT gender specific. Similar to the machismo mentality in Latinx culture, it’s often assumed that the man is the provider of the house and whatever comes with that, they have to suppress their feelings and “just deal with it” and move forward. Symptoms of mental illness show up differently in men than in women, but that doesn’t mean that they’re non-existent as a whole.
5. ❌ Whether or not you believe in obeah, voodoo, karma, etc., there are a plethora of variables that may affect someone’s mental health, exclusive of the supernatural. Being honest with yourself and objectively acknowledging environmental, emotional, and cognitive factors is the first step towards better managing your mental health.
What other myths would you add to this list??
