HARTFORD, Conn. — Whitney Ziyonne’s days often end in tears.
The single mother works hard to balance her job as a vegan chef at Fresh 5 Deli in Hartford with taking care of her two children – one of whom has special needs. It is not easy.
Therapy was the answer. By talking to a professional, Ziyonne could pause, sit, and evaluate what was happening in her life – and it made her a more patient and present mother.
“Before therapy, I was in shutdown mode,” Ziyonne said. “I didn’t want to talk about my feelings. I was in fight-or-flight mode; always on the go and not stopping to process all the changes that were happening around me.”
The value of mental health – particularly in the Black and other minority communities – carries a stigma that has been passed down through generations. Several factors including educational, financial, and cultural beliefs contribute to how mental health is perceived in the Black community.
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Data from the Office of Minority Health with the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) shows that Black adults in the United States are more likely than their white counterparts to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress.
Maurice Eastwood, a Hartford-based licensed social worker, seeks to dispel some of the misconceptions about mental health that have plagued the Black community for generations.
He said people often think something is wrong with them if they seek help; that therapy is only for moments of crisis and that religion can replace professional guidance. There is also a fear of being prescribed medication, he said.
In Black men, the combination of ego and the ideas of toxic masculinity, also contribute to a dismissal of healthy mental health.
“We’re taught that the masculine thing to do is to poke your chest out, say nothing, and huff and puff but really those people are the weaker ones,” Eastwood said. “There’s a certain level of strength exhibited when you say I’m not feeling good today, I’m mentally not there today, damn, I’m sad, I’m just not well. Showing that weakness is strength.”
Through his own experience, Eastwood said he’s learned to unlock a better version of himself by acknowledging areas where he wasn’t doing well.
“It helped me force myself to be more honest about things and it helped me force myself to put myself first in order to be there and be present for my family, my daughter, the work that I’m doing.”
The HHS also reports Black adults living below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress than those with more financial security.
Eastwood grew up in Hartford’s North End where he said the average annual income was just over $12,000. He said data shows that in areas across the country where there is poverty, there tends to be a spike in violence.
“There are people in jail serving 5, 10, 15 [years] or life solely because they weren’t taught how to gauge their anger, how to know where they are in real-time or how to express themselves verbally,” Eastwood said. “They were only taught to express themselves physically and therefore you have the consequences that land them where they are.”
He hopes that by dispelling stigmas about therapy and being a mental health professional with whom people can identify, he can facilitate changes that can be seen through future generations.
“If I’m working with adults and I see their growth, the kids receive a better parent and so forth,” Eastwood said.
That line of thinking is what led to Ziyonne beginning her journey with therapy.
“Growing up in the Black community, we’re always taught ‘I’m your parent, I’m not your friend’ but that’s not true,” Ziyonne said. “You have to be your child’s first friend. You have to sit, you have to talk with them, you have to get on their level with them. They have feelings they’re a child but they’re human just like you’re human. You need to be heard and they need to be heard.”
Ziyonne hopes that sharing her experience will help others see therapy is okay.
“Therapy is your safe space,” she said. “I want you to know you might not like your first therapist, shop around! You don’t always find the perfect show when you go to the store. Read the bios of the therapists and see if you feel a connection to the person before you sit down and intertwine with them because this is a person you’re going to spend your deepest, darkest, and even happiest moments with.”
For people who might not be comfortable committing to therapy, Eastwood suggests seeking out support groups, or even online discussion boards.
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The State of Connecticut also offers resources and behavioral health services are covered for Husky Health recipients.
The state also has options for youth dealing with mental health challenges, available through the Department of Children and Families.
Click here for more information on resources available through 211 Connecticut.
People can also utilize the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, available nationwide.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness also shares information on support groups and more.
Symphonie Privett is a trending reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at sprivett@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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