Why A Mental Health Professional?
When I think about the year 2011, one high school experience comes to mind. I vividly remember showing my mother the cuts on my stomach from self-harm. The internal depression and sadness were too much to bear; I just had to release and tell her what I was feeling. Her reaction, although calm, showed confusion. She asked why several times. I could not give a sensible answer. Honestly, I couldn’t make sense of my thoughts and feelings, knowing I had a life that other kids would dream of. Growing up, my parents always had an ‘open-door policy’. There was nothing that I could not speak to them about. However, I assumed my internal feelings would bring about shame and disappointment. Growing up, I recall conversations about religion, race, peer pressure, sex, and education, but not mental health. I guess you can say the lack of conversation about mental health led to my assumption that divulging such information would be forbidden.
I struggled with mental health throughout high school and into early adulthood. Loving family and friends, therapy, and other mental health professionals played an integral role in overcoming my personal adversity, building confidence, and developing coping skills. I knew I wanted to advocate and empower others as others did for myself. I wanted to encourage people to keep going and not let adverse life experiences define them. Most importantly, I wanted to bring awareness to minority mental health. Being black can come with so many negative experiences that are viewed as normal, and repressing emotions is often the solution. It is what some of us have been doing for generations. However, discussing mental health in minority communities is integral to healing generational trauma and empowerment of the whole person. After all, physical, mental, environmental, financial, and emotional wellness are all connected.
At graduate school, I learned about many mental health career pathways and how it can be a lucrative profession. In high school, my favorite teacher told me, “Whatever you do, just don’t become a social worker.” Although I valued her opinions, I knew my purpose was to be a mental health professional. It feels so good to be walking in my purpose and impacting others. Walking in your purpose may not align with others’ expectations, but you have one life to live.
Live for you.