Mental Health among Black African Communities in the UK - Essay Example

?The Importance of Health Promotion in Tackling Mental Health Among Black African Communities in UK Did you know that according to recent data, one out of nine young Black men ages 18 to 34 are in prison? Well, this is just one of the problems that Black African Communities are facing today (Poverty and Life in The Black Community - African Culture, n.d). This makes people see Black African Society as the lowest and one of the dangerous people to avoid. However, before one should conclude anything about Black Africans, it is important to get to know the reason behind and understand the real sentiment and condition of those that are behind all these preconceived thoughts, the Black African Community. Thus, this paper will examine if there is a significant effect of promoting health in decreasing the number of cases of mental illnesses that Black Africans are now facing in the UK such as depression, schizophrenia, and mental stress. Black British which is the term used to describe British people who have Black African descent are those people who have partial ancestry from native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa. Going back to history, they are also the descendants of the enslaved Africans in the former British colonies in the West Indies. With this fact, one could say that most of their history would have to do with slavery, reconstruction, participation in military, racial segregation, and the civil rights movement (Black British, n.d). Indeed, Black Africans experienced a troubling and painful history. Until today, Black Africans who are residing in the UK are experiencing a lot of challenges that has to do with their race, background, culture, and even language. A new study shows that Black Africans who are settling in the United Kingdom, though have a better life condition that in the past history, would still face the question of whether they are able to integrate or are being segregated. Well, the answer to this would differ based on one’s national and ethnic background (Black Africans in Britain: Integration or Segregation, n.d). According to the study of Dr. Lavinia Mitton and Mr Peter Aspinall of the University of Kent, they say that Black African communities in the United Kingdom are one of the most diverse group that are living in the country. This is because of their wide range of experience in terms of their country of birth, religion, and native language. This poses a rigid distinction between Black Africans from those that are originally residing in United Kingdom. Currently, there are now 737,000 'Black Africans' in England and Wales and they are considered the fastest growing ethnic group in the UK. Most of this population are migrants. The challenges that Black Africans are facing today is the language barrier that is making them have a hard time to communicate with other people and at the same time express their feelings to others. Aside from that, they are also experiencing financial limitations and other problems that resulted when they settled in the UK. The ethnic group that are most disadvantaged by settling down in United Kingdom would be the Somalis and Congolese. They are ones who are finding the hardest time to integrate to the new environment where the common reasons for this would be the common assumption that ‘Black Africans’ do not have a hard time when it comes to linguistic barriers thus, making them cope without any help from locals in the UK. The fact is that language is the biggest barrier for them to succeed or thrive in the UK. This is because with the language barrier, they find difficulties in their education or in getting a job (Black Africans in Britain: Integration or Segregation, n.d). Also deprivation in the life conditions of these Black Africans living in the United Kingdom would vary by home language, where pupils from Somali, Lingala and French-speaking homes would have the highest level of eligibility for free schools meals, while Igbo, Yoruba and Shona speakers are ones who live in financially better-off households. The worse living condition would be that of the Somalis and Congolese who lives in the most deprived lives. Moreover, employment, self-employment, or unemployment varies by their country of birth. Study shows that Black Africans, especially Somalis, are being paid less than average than white British people which makes it a hard time for them to provide for the right food and nutrition they need and enjoy a more healthy social condition without stress (Black Africans in Britain: Integration or Segregation, n.d). With all these, one would realize that it was not really an easy life for Black Africans. They could blame it in the location they were born in, the locals that took advantage of them, or perhaps just plain history that allowed their part to be of hardship and pain. However, one thing is for sure, all these have made them who they are today and be in the current situation they are living in. What do you really know about Black Africans? Well, a lot of people would know them because of the fact that they are considered one of the poorest country and race in the world. Well, current data shows that 42% of Black Africans are not married while 62% belong to the single parent homes. Also, it is true that one out of nine ages 18 to 34 are incarcerated. Also, when it comes to poverty, twenty- three percent of the Black African populations are living below the poverty level (Poverty and Life in The Black Community, n.d). Now, no one can quite be able to understand the kind of poverty they are in unless you get into personal contact with them. Indeed, though one could say that all the Black African experiences are painful, what is worse is to still face permanent damage to their society, which aside from poverty would also be how all these affected their mental health. Do you think health promotion is one key to tackle mental health issues among Black African communities? First of all, it is important to get to know the mental issues that Black African communities are facing today. Well, mental illness is such a taboo in the Black African communities as though it is imminent that almost one family member is suffering from a mental illness, they would rather not talk about it or face the problem and keep it to their family. What made these communities just not talk about it is because some signs of mental illness within Black Africans were not necessarily destructive such as ranging in violent anger or perhaps does not make you hear voices. That is why, they allowed their loved ones to just go through with it (Black Girl Thinking, n.d). Also, there are other reasons why Black Africans did not get the treatment that they need. Some of which are the fact that they distrusted health professionals because of previous mistreatments, cultural barriers between doctors and patients, reliance on family instead of mental health professionals, the attitude of rather talking about physical problems rather than mental symptoms, socioeconomic factors which limits access to medical care as 25 percent of Black Africans do not have insurance, and the stigma about mental illness (Mental Health Africa, n.d). This hushed attitude towards treatment of mental illness resulted to a huge number of depression and suicide. Well, the best thing to do to be able to know the answer to whether health promotion is the key to curing mental illness within Black Africans is to be able to understand the mental health issues Black Africans are currently facing. Well, according to studies, 1 out of 3 Black Africans have bipolar disorder which is also called as manic depression. These are thus caused by their painful experiences before and the segregation or isolation they are facing today in the United Kingdom which is now taking a toll on their ability to make money problems, provide for utmost health, and sa lot more (Womenshealth.gov, n.d). Also, they are disproportionately exposed to social conditions that serve as great risks for physical and mental illness. We all know that all these causes them to worry and get stressed out, and without the proper nutrition for these Black Africans as most of them are either without a job or perhaps are paid under the minimum wage, it could not only result to hunger or malnutrition but at the same time easily affects their mental ( Black Africans in Great Britain: Spatial Concentration and Segregation, n.d). Now, why do health factors or poor health among Black Africans pose a great influence in the mental illness rate among the community? Well, studies say that a better diet could improve mental health among Black Africans (Medical Xpress, n.d.). This is because of the fact that research shows that those people who do not smoke or have better diets are those that tend to have happier and better mental health while those who smoke and went through excessive weight loss would easily deteriorate speaking of not only their health but also their mental health during times when they face challenges and problems. Connecting this study to the case of Black Africans who are not getting enough nutrition because of poverty and at the same time have poor environmental conditions because of poverty and social issues around, we could say that promoting health among them would help lessen mental problems. Some of the reasons why Black Americans are prone to mental illness is because of their low living conditions where they have limited access to a balanced diet, an equal treatment, or the prejudice that they constantly face. Also, studies show that those people who are suffering mental health problems who began practicing a better diet have been said to improve their mental health. Thus, in the problem of mental illness among the Black Africanns today, it is really good for them to start battling this problem by understanding the benefits of good health in their communities (Medical Xpress, n.d.). We all know that we cannot already change their past experiences in the historic era that has contributed to the reason why there are a lot of mental illnesses that Black Africans are having problems with. However, moving forward and going past those experiences to battle mental illness would be through health promotion which a lot of people still do not understand. Health promotion among the Black African Societies would be a good start to cure mental health issues they are facing. One of which would be informing them about the role of healthy eating in providing one for one’s mental well being. We all know that Black African communities are those who do not get much quality education thus, gaining them little knowledge about healthy diet. Thus, it is good to not only promote a good diet but at the same time making them aware of the effects of a bad diet as well which do not only affect one’s physical performance but at the same time one’s mental performance, just like the fact that proved Omega 3 to play a big part in one’s brain function (Medical Xpress, n.d.). Indeed there are a lot of studies that would show the connection of food and one’s mood which has a lot to do about one’s mental health. Though experts believe that dietary changes are not the only recommended professional treatment for the mental illnesses Black Africans are experiencing, it is really one factor that will help them overcome them. What is for sure is that proper nutrition will help one feeling good physically and at the same time emotionally that makes up a healthy mind as well (Nutrition and Mental Health, n.d). Some of the proven help that certain nutrients can do to one’s body and mind would be Omega 3 fatty acids that are proven to improve the good circulation of one’s heart as it reduces “bad” cholesterol and increases the “good” cholesterol. Thus, once one is able to achieve this, one is promised to gain improvements in one’s mood. This is so as research dictate that omega-3 fatty acids affects the way one’s brain sends signals throughout the body. Omega 3 can be found in seafood, flaxseeds, flaxseed oil and walnuts which are easy to find in the UK (Nutrition and Mental Health, n.d). Also, in treating depression and Schizophrenia which is one of the recurring problems among Black Africans residing in the UK and is considered one of their biggest mental problem, a good diet would really be able to help. How? Well, Tryptophan which is an amino acid can produce a chemical called serotonin. This chemical is believed to treat people who have depression as depression in the first place is caused by a low serotonin level. To be able to do so, Black Africans can get these substances in red meat, dairy products, soy and turkey. Also, with regard to treating depression Magnesium is one that could also help as it is a nutrient that helps your body produce energy, targeting your muscles, arteries and heart. It can be found in green leafy vegetables, nuts and avocados. Studies show that patients who take more magnesium recover quickly from depression. Folic acid and vitamin B-12 on the other hand are vitamins that help one’s metabolism and production of blood cells. It is found in foods such as leafy greens and fruits while Vitamin B-12 is mainly found in fish, shellfish, meat and dairy products. These are also related to chemicals called dopamine and noradrenalin where in many cases, people who are depressed are those who lack these chemicals. Thus, increasing a person’s levels of folic acid and vitamin B-12 will help them respond easily and faster to medicines that treat depression (Nutrition and Mental Health, n.d). Indeed, the best way to treat the stagnant problem that Black Africans in the UK are facing such as treating their mental issues resulted from bad experiences, poverty, poor environmental and social conditions, isolation and prejudice would be a thorough health promotion. Although specific research would not suggest primarily a change in the lack of nutrition diet that Black Africans have and totally replacing professional psychological treatments and counseling, giving them the knowledge of the importance of having a healthy diet and at the same time an equal treatment and opportunity in the UK would help them be able to battle depression, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses faster and easier. References: "Black British - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. . " 'Black Africans' in Britain: integration or segregation? | ESRC | The Economic and Social Research Council." Home | ESRC | The Economic and Social Research Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. . "Poverty and Life in The Black Community." BellaOnline - The Voice of Women. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. . 1860. "African American - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. . "African women and mental health problems and suicide | womenshealth.gov ." womenshealth.gov . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. . "Black African and Mental Illness « Black Girl Thinking." Black Girl Thinking. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. . "Mental Health Africa: Bipolar Disorder and Black Africans." Mental Health Africa: Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. . "Poor diet linked to teen mental health problems." Medical Xpress. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. . "Family Doctor." Nutrition and Mental Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. . Daley, Patricia. "Black Africans in Great Britain: Spatial Concentration and Segregation." Geo. Carfax, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2011. Read More