[WrkNPrgress]

I'm not sure where to place this but I found an interesting article that highlights the stigma of mental illness as a "white girl thing" and the lack of portrayals of African American women and mental health in the media.

I Just thought I'd post it here if anyone's interested (the source is a feminist magazine that deals with pop-culture) because I think all perspectives can inform each other and there might be people here who are affected by this misrepresentation.

Don't We Hurt Like You? | B**** Media

[Perna]

It is interesting because I am following the story of the woman found pushing her dead 3-year-old son a few days ago at 6:30 in the morning and it looking like she'd been there doing that a long time/all night. They haven't been able to determine how he died or what happened and didn't know who she was until her mother/the grandmother spoke out. I have to admit I was surprised they were African American. Apparently the woman was being treated for depression and she and the boy were living in a motel (homeless). The woman is still in the hospital under care. I was not surprised she is being treated for depression.

Grandmother of child found dead in swing speaks out

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by WrkNPrgress

I'm not sure where to place this but I found an interesting article that highlights the stigma of mental illness as a "white girl thing" and the lack of portrayals of African American women and mental health in the media.

I Just thought I'd post it here if anyone's interested (the source is a feminist magazine that deals with pop-culture) because I think all perspectives can inform each other and there might be people here who are affected by this misrepresentation.

Don't We Hurt Like You? | B**** Media

my opinion is that here in the USA mental illness does not discriminate (only strike people of one color, one race/ one gender....) the USA does periodically log census and statistics\demographics of all races, all genders, all walks of life. I know many people from all walked of life that have mental disorders and none are more than any other...example for every black person I know with a mental problem there is a white person with a mental disorder...

that said I checked out what ***** magazine was and its a blog that is just someones opinions. its like if you contacted Doc john and started your own blog on your mental disorder and you views on life. you are going to post in your blog what relevant to you and your life. these people in the link are posting a blog about whats relevant in their life belief systems. here in america they are free to do that.

statistics wise if a location is predominately black then of course the statistics for that area is going to be high with having blacks with mental disorders. just like if a location has a high ratio of french or german speaking people then the statistics are going to say theres a high rate of german or french speaking people with mental disorders....my point is that statics, demographics results are going to just be the results of what ever group of people make up that study pool of people that were asked to take part in that poll or study.

my point is the article is about south africa, south africa is predominately black so of course any statistics \polls\ demographics taken there are going to show a predominance of blacks with mental disorders in what ever they are discussing in the link (I have not read the whole article)

It would be interesting to compare between the rates of homlessness and mental illness in women of colour and that of their white counterparts. But i agree mental illness in the media is seen as a "white" issue.

[ruh roh]

Great article.

[FranzJosef]

I think this could be part of a wider issue. If the poor are angry, frightened and sad, well, poverty explains it. Mental illness is a luxury reserved for the rich.

[stopchewinggum]

It was a good article. I think it is true that many people consider MI a "white woman" problem. Still, considering the mentally ill are often portrayed as psycho killers, I'd almost rather not be portrayed at all. That's if it were me. It's not, so I'll end by saying it was a good article.