In this episode of Conversations with Coach LA, she will chat with Regina Thee Mindfulnista the founder of Mindful + Melanated, and the 3rd Annual Strong Black Woman Redefined event on Oct 15, 2022. She will share her mental health journey. Black women are the most underserved population in almost every aspect of society. One of which is access to quality mental health resources. Additionally, studies have shown that STIGMA and the MYTH that Black women are uniquely resilient to mental distress prevents Black women from seeking mental health support when they need it. In response to both of these circumstances, Regina Renaye felt moved to share her lived experience to start Mindful + Melanated. Mindful and Melanated is a mental wellness community designed specifically for Black women to heal and embark on their own unique mental wellness journeys. This year, she is hosting her 3rd Annual Strong Black Woman Redefined event on Oct 15, 2022. You can register today to join us for a full day of wellness, empowerment, and networking: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/396057938957 If you are unable to attend but still want to support us, please consider making a donation at https://bit.ly/mindfuldonation. Your donation will help her organization to continue to provide culturally relevant + competent mental wellness support to this underserved population. Want to learn how Mindful + Melanated can help you start or improve your mental wellness journey? Go to www.mindfulandmelanated.com to learn more about our virtual sister circle.
Strong Black Woman Narrative
The superwoman schema includes five elements: feeling an obligation to present an image of strength, feeling an obligation to suppress emotions, resistance to being vulnerable, a drive to succeed despite limited resources, and feeling an obligation to help others. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_the_strong_black_woman_identity_both_helps_and_hurts
As a result of her intersecting identities— as a woman, a Black person, and an individual who identifies as a SBW— a SBW independently assumes a multiplicity of responsibilities and roles, chief among them are provider and caretaker. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6510490/ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/we-must-educate-doctors-about-black-womensexperience-says-expert#1 https://www.bu.edu/womensguild/2022/02/07/the-strong-black-woman-dr-yvette-cozier/ https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1125&context=communication_theses
Suicide and Black Women’s Mental Health https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40615-021-01198-y https://time.com/6046773/black-teenage-girls-suicide/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34984654/
Across the board, suicide rates among young Americans have risen; from 2007 to 2018, suicide rates for Americans ages 10 to 24 rose by 57%, and the increase was particularly significant among young girls, contributing to a narrowing of the persistent suicide gender gap. Rates plateaued from 2018 to 2019—the most recent year with available federal data—but they stood far higher than those of decades past. In 2019, suicide was the second leading cause of death for blacks or African Americans, ages 15 to 24.1 The death rate from suicide for black or African American men was four times greater than for African American women, in 2018.
https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/reasons-suicide-is-on-the-rise-in-theblack-community-according-to-a-psychiatrist/
Support Services/Resources
https://thewomenscenter.org/black-mental-health-resources/
Mindful and Melanated www.mindfulandmelanated.com
Pure Spark http://www.yourpurespark.com/