And how to find the right therapist for your child

Writer: Sharon Boone

Clinical Experts: Rhonda Boyd, PhD , Ruth C. White, PhD, MPH, MSW , Christine M. Crawford, MD, MPH

What You'll Learn

- Why is there mistrust of mental health professionals among Black patients?

- Why is it so important that mental health providers are culturally competent?

- How can Black parents find Black and/or culturally competent therapists?

- Searching for Black mental health professionals

- A question of comfort and safety

- Cultural awareness affects quality of care

- Help finding Black mental health practitioners

- Finding culturally inclusive non-Black clinicians

When Grace W.’s son Denzel began acting out in class, the New York City-based copy editor was immediately concerned. Denzel, then aged eight, had always been a stellar student. In the gifted program at school, he had never gotten into trouble.

“He was also starting to have a lot of nightmares, and his teacher was calling every week to say that he was disrupting class,” Grace says. “This was not the Denzel I knew. We needed help.”

When Grace contacted her company’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for a referral to a mental health provider, she had a few requirements. “I wanted a child psychologist, someone with a practice near enough to go there after school easily, and I wanted them to be Black.”

Finding the first two items on her list was relatively easy, but locating a Black therapist proved much harder. After combing through the list of providers supplied by the EAP, Grace was dismayed to discover that none were Black. “I felt a Black counselor would be a more comfortable fit for Denzel and me,” she says. “I had to insist.” Grace called the administrator of the EAP directly. “The person I spoke with was Black and understood what I wanted,” she says. “It took some doing but we eventually found a Black woman in our area.”

Searching for Black mental health professionals

Finding a Black therapist isn’t easy. According to the 2022 Black Mental Health Workforce Survey, within the United States, only about 5% of psychologists, 7% of marriage and family counselors, 20% of social workers, and 11% of professional counselors are Black. And locating a Black child psychiatrist, specifically, can be even harder. Of the 10,500 child and adolescent psychiatrists currently practicing in the United States, “just 1% are Black,” says Christine M. Crawford, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Boston University and an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. “If you’re looking for a Black child psychiatrist, especially if you live in the South, Midwest, or a rural area, you’re looking for a unicorn.”

Despite the difficulty, recent research shows that, like Grace, many in the Black community have a strong preference for mental health professionals who look like them and share their cultural beliefs.

A new study conducted by the Child Mind Institute in partnership with the Steve Fund, surveyed 1,000 Black parents seeking care for their child and 500 young Black adults seeking care for themselves. The goal of the study was to garner insight into the experiences and views of Black families and youth around mental health within the United States, as well as identify the key barriers they continue to face. Nearly half of participants (both parents and young adults) said that they trusted a Black mental health professional over one who is white or a non-Black person of color.

“There’s a comfort level that parents get from a Black provider,” says Rhonda Boyd, PhD, associate director of the Child and Adolescent Mood Program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “When they feel like they’re understood and can, in turn, understand where the provider is coming from, it can make doing the assessment and understanding the treatment plan easier.”

A question of comfort and safety

There are many in the Black community who still view health care with suspicion. From the Tuskegee syphilis study to the forced sterilization of Black women and girls to the unauthorized harvesting and use of Henrietta Lacks’s cells, there’s a long history of mistreatment and outright racism in the health care system.

“There’s a reason why some in the Black community may not trust the medical establishment,” says Ruth C. White, PhD, MPH, MSW, a diversity trainer and former clinical associate professor in social work at the University of Southern California. “Historically we haven’t been treated well.”

For many, seeing a Black mental health professional can make it easier to put aside these concerns.

As a Black clinician, Dr. Crawford has seen firsthand how her presence affects patients. “There’s a look of relief on the faces of Black parents and caregivers when they meet with me for the first time,” she says. “There’s this sense that they can trust me, that there’s an understanding and an assumption that the diagnosis I provide won’t be rooted in bias or racism.”

This is particularly true when it comes to mental health care for children and adolescents. “There’s often a concern that if your kid were to express any mental health challenges or talk about difficult interactions that they might have with their parents, Child Protective Services is going to be called with that information,” Dr. Crawford says. “That’s how Black families are walking into their encounters with brand new mental health providers because of their life experience.”

Dr. White notes that Black parents may also be wary that receiving counseling for their children may expose them to systemic racism. “It’s important to understand that, historically, Black kids who were reported to have behavior problems were shunted to programs and tracked,” she says. “Parents may resist therapy because they don’t want their kids to get labeled.”

Cultural awareness affects quality of care

Nearly half of the participants in the Child Mind Institute study stated that white and non-Black POC mental health professionals often misunderstand or underestimate the effects racism can have on mental health. “Experiencing microaggressions and racism can lead to racial trauma which, in some people, can elicit symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD, ” Dr. Crawford says. “When a clinician minimizes or invalidates their experiences, it can create a barrier to wanting to engage in treatment.”

And sometimes the issue is really a lack of cultural awareness. “Clients have told me when they’ve tried to talk about racism with a non-Black provider, it seemed to make the clinician very nervous.” Dr. White says. “And often, clients feel like, now I have to educate my therapist, that’s not what I came here for.”

That’s the situation Danielle D., a paralegal in East Orange, New Jersey, found herself in when she began seeing a white therapist she found through her school. “I remember telling her a story about my mom, and she reacted more stunned and enchanted to hear certain stories about growing up in a Caribbean household,” Danielle says. “She wasn’t derogatory or condescending, but I needed her to act like my therapist and not like a student I was teaching about my culture.”

Instead of being supported, Danielle felt let down. “She ??really couldn’t understand anything with regards to my family’s background, so I spent most of the time giving in-depth explanations about things a Black therapist would just get,” she says. “I met with her a handful of times before I stopped going and focused on finding a Black therapist.”

And after conducting a lengthy search, Danielle found a Black therapist near her. “Finding someone I can relate to and who could relate to me was key,” says Danielle. “With my other therapist, I just felt like I wasn’t being seen.”

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

Click Here For More Information About James Donaldson

Click here to follow James Donaldson's Blog

Help finding Black mental health practitioners

Locating a Black therapist may feel challenging, but there are some resources and strategies you can use to simplify the process. A good first step is to leverage your workplace resources, such as your company’s EAP. “It doesn’t hurt to ask them for help identifying Black clinicians,” Grace says. “Don’t overlook your health insurance company,” adds Dr. Boyd. “Ask if there are Black therapists available under your plan.”

If you don’t have access to an EAP, check out websites that provide directories of Black therapists. The following list is a good place to start your search:

- The Association of Black Psychologists

- Black Therapists Rock

- Clinicians of Color

- Inclusive Therapists

- InnoPsych

- Melanin & Mental Health

- Therapy for Black Girls

Once you decide that you’d like your therapist to be Black, it helps to think about what else you’re looking for. For instance, after Danielle narrowed down her search to a Black woman, she also looked for who saw clients in person and who was located within reasonable travel distance from her home. Then she began to comb through directories and asked friends for recommendations.

And if you know of a therapist who might not be right for your situation — say they specialize in couples counseling and you need someone who works with children — consider asking them for a recommendation. Clinicians often have a professional network and can guide you toward trusted practitioners. “Black Therapists Rock has over 20,000 members on its Facebook page,” says Dr. White. “People post saying they are looking, say, for a therapist who deals with Black adolescents in the Washington D.C., area, and members are happy to post referrals.”

Finding culturally inclusive non-Black clinicians

But given the deficit in Black mental health professionals in the United States, the best option may be a carefully chosen non-Black therapist. “I tell folks, do not let the color of your clinician’s skin be the barrier that keeps you from getting the help that you or your child needs,” says Dr. Crawford.

So, if you’re unable to find a Black provider, try to find a non-Black one who is inclusive and culturally sensitive. Changes in the way mental health professionals are taught and trained over the past decade are making this easier. “As someone who oversees the training programs for licensed mental health counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists, I can tell you providing culturally competent care to people who aren’t of your same background is a required part of training,” Dr. Crawford says. “They’re trained on how to ask questions coming from a place of curiosity, rather than making assumptions or judgments about a patient based on the color of their skin.”

When meeting with any clinician for the first time, it can be helpful to come prepared with questions about their approach to therapy and what you can expect from a typical session. And when dealing with a non-Black therapist, asking about their experience in treating Black patients is key. “Ask explicitly if they are comfortable talking about race and racism and any issues that are important to you, and notice how they react,” says Dr. White. “If the question makes them squirm, if it gives them pause, if they display discomfort, then they may not be the right person for you.”

Dr. Crawford says when it comes to evaluating a non-Black therapist for your child, consider the artwork in the office, what books are on the shelves, and the color of the dolls in the room. “Ask yourself if this is an environment that communicates that all are welcome.”

Once you’ve chosen a clinician, remember those initial sessions with any mental health provider, no matter their race, can feel uncomfortable. “They’re asking a lot of questions and prying into very personal information in a way that may make you feel uneasy,” says Dr. Boyd. “It’s important that you give it a chance.”

Check in with your child regularly about their comfort level with the provider and schedule regular meetings with the provider to make sure everyone is on the same page. And after some time, if you feel like your kid doesn’t feel comfortable, you’re not seeing progress, or you’re unhappy with your interactions, have an open conversation about whether they’re still a good fit. “Therapists are trained to navigate these conversations,” Dr. Crawford says. “And parents should feel empowered to be active participants in their child’s mental health treatment.” https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=16555

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Black Parents and the Importance of Cultural Competence in Therapy

And how to find the right therapist for your child

Writer: Sharon Boone

Clinical Experts: Rhonda Boyd, PhD , Ruth C. White, PhD, MPH, MSW , Christine M. Crawford, MD, MPH

What You'll Learn

- Why is there mistrust of mental health professionals among Black patients?
- Why is it so important that mental health providers are culturally competent?
- How can Black parents find Black and/or culturally competent therapists?
- Searching for Black mental health professionals
- A question of comfort and safety
- Cultural awareness affects quality of care
- Help finding Black mental health practitioners
- Finding culturally inclusive non-Black clinicians

When Grace W.’s son Denzel began acting out in class, the New York City-based copy editor was immediately concerned. Denzel, then aged eight, had always been a stellar student. In the gifted program at school, he had never gotten into trouble.

“He was also starting to have a lot of nightmares, and his teacher was calling every week to say that he was disrupting class,” Grace says. “This was not the Denzel I knew. We needed help.”

When Grace contacted her company’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for a referral to a mental health provider, she had a few requirements. “I wanted a child psychologist, someone with a practice near enough to go there after school easily, and I wanted them to be Black.”

Finding the first two items on her list was relatively easy, but locating a Black therapist proved much harder. After combing through the list of providers supplied by the EAP, Grace was dismayed to discover that none were Black. “I felt a Black counselor would be a more comfortable fit for Denzel and me,” she says. “I had to insist.” Grace called the administrator of the EAP directly. “The person I spoke with was Black and understood what I wanted,” she says. “It took some doing but we eventually found a Black woman in our area.”

Searching for Black mental health professionals

Finding a Black therapist isn’t easy. According to the 2022 Black Mental Health Workforce Survey, within the United States, only about 5% of psychologists, 7% of marriage and family counselors, 20% of social workers, and 11% of professional counselors are Black. And locating a Black child psychiatrist, specifically, can be even harder. Of the 10,500 child and adolescent psychiatrists currently practicing in the United States, “just 1% are Black,” says Christine M. Crawford, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Boston University and an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. “If you’re looking for a Black child psychiatrist, especially if you live in the South, Midwest, or a rural area, you’re looking for a unicorn.”

Despite the difficulty, recent research shows that, like Grace, many in the Black community have a strong preference for mental health professionals who look like them and share their cultural beliefs.

A new study conducted by the Child Mind Institute in partnership with the Steve Fund, surveyed 1,000 Black parents seeking care for their child and 500 young Black adults seeking care for themselves. The goal of the study was to garner insight into the experiences and views of Black families and youth around mental health within the United States, as well as identify the key barriers they continue to face. Nearly half of participants (both parents and young adults) said that they trusted a Black mental health professional over one who is white or a non-Black person of color.

“There’s a comfort level that parents get from a Black provider,” says Rhonda Boyd, PhD, associate director of the Child and Adolescent Mood Program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “When they feel like they’re understood and can, in turn, understand where the provider is coming from, it can make doing the assessment and understanding the treatment plan easier.”

A question of comfort and safety

There are many in the Black community who still view health care with suspicion. From the Tuskegee syphilis study to the forced sterilization of Black women and girls to the unauthorized harvesting and use of Henrietta Lacks’s cells, there’s a long history of mistreatment and outright racism in the health care system.

“There’s a reason why some in the Black community may not trust the medical establishment,” says Ruth C. White, PhD, MPH, MSW, a diversity trainer and former clinical associate professor in social work at the University of Southern California. “Historically we haven’t been treated well.”

For many, seeing a Black mental health professional can make it easier to put aside these concerns.

As a Black clinician, Dr. Crawford has seen firsthand how her presence affects patients. “There’s a look of relief on the faces of Black parents and caregivers when they meet with me for the first time,” she says. “There’s this sense that they can trust me, that there’s an understanding and an assumption that the diagnosis I provide won’t be rooted in bias or racism.”

This is particularly true when it comes to mental health care for children and adolescents. “There’s often a concern that if your kid were to express any mental health challenges or talk about difficult interactions that they might have with their parents, Child Protective Services is going to be called with that information,” Dr. Crawford says. “That’s how Black families are walking into their encounters with brand new mental health providers because of their life experience.”

Dr. White notes that Black parents may also be wary that receiving counseling for their children may expose them to systemic racism. “It’s important to understand that, historically, Black kids who were reported to have behavior problems were shunted to programs and tracked,” she says. “Parents may resist therapy because they don’t want their kids to get labeled.”

Cultural awareness affects quality of care

Nearly half of the participants in the Child Mind Institute study stated that white and non-Black POC mental health professionals often misunderstand or underestimate the effects racism can have on mental health. “Experiencing microaggressions and racism can lead to racial trauma which, in some people, can elicit symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD, ” Dr. Crawford says. “When a clinician minimizes or invalidates their experiences, it can create a barrier to wanting to engage in treatment.”

And sometimes the issue is really a lack of cultural awareness. “Clients have told me when they’ve tried to talk about racism with a non-Black provider, it seemed to make the clinician very nervous.” Dr. White says. “And often, clients feel like, now I have to educate my therapist, that’s not what I came here for.”

That’s the situation Danielle D., a paralegal in East Orange, New Jersey, found herself in when she began seeing a white therapist she found through her school. “I remember telling her a story about my mom, and she reacted more stunned and enchanted to hear certain stories about growing up in a Caribbean household,” Danielle says. “She wasn’t derogatory or condescending, but I needed her to act like my therapist and not like a student I was teaching about my culture.”

Instead of being supported, Danielle felt let down. “She ??really couldn’t understand anything with regards to my family’s background, so I spent most of the time giving in-depth explanations about things a Black therapist would just get,” she says. “I met with her a handful of times before I stopped going and focused on finding a Black therapist.”

And after conducting a lengthy search, Danielle found a Black therapist near her. “Finding someone I can relate to and who could relate to me was key,” says Danielle. “With my other therapist, I just felt like I wasn’t being seen.”

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation
website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

Click Here For More Information About James Donaldson

Click here to follow James Donaldson's Blog

Help finding Black mental health practitioners

Locating a Black therapist may feel challenging, but there are some resources and strategies you can use to simplify the process. A good first step is to leverage your workplace resources, such as your company’s EAP. “It doesn’t hurt to ask them for help identifying Black clinicians,” Grace says. “Don’t overlook your health insurance company,” adds Dr. Boyd. “Ask if there are Black therapists available under your plan.”

If you don’t have access to an EAP, check out websites that provide directories of Black therapists. The following list is a good place to start your search:

- The Association of Black Psychologists
- Black Therapists Rock
- Clinicians of Color
- Inclusive Therapists
- InnoPsych
- Melanin & Mental Health
- Therapy for Black Girls

Once you decide that you’d like your therapist to be Black, it helps to think about what else you’re looking for. For instance, after Danielle narrowed down her search to a Black woman, she also looked for who saw clients in person and who was located within reasonable travel distance from her home. Then she began to comb through directories and asked friends for recommendations.

And if you know of a therapist who might not be right for your situation — say they specialize in couples counseling and you need someone who works with children — consider asking them for a recommendation. Clinicians often have a professional network and can guide you toward trusted practitioners. “Black Therapists Rock has over 20,000 members on its Facebook page,” says Dr. White. “People post saying they are looking, say, for a therapist who deals with Black adolescents in the Washington D.C., area, and members are happy to post referrals.”

Finding culturally inclusive non-Black clinicians

But given the deficit in Black mental health professionals in the United States, the best option may be a carefully chosen non-Black therapist. “I tell folks, do not let the color of your clinician’s skin be the barrier that keeps you from getting the help that you or your child needs,” says Dr. Crawford.

So, if you’re unable to find a Black provider, try to find a non-Black one who is inclusive and culturally sensitive. Changes in the way mental health professionals are taught and trained over the past decade are making this easier. “As someone who oversees the training programs for licensed mental health counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists, I can tell you providing culturally competent care to people who aren’t of your same background is a required part of training,” Dr. Crawford says. “They’re trained on how to ask questions coming from a place of curiosity, rather than making assumptions or judgments about a patient based on the color of their skin.”

When meeting with any clinician for the first time, it can be helpful to come prepared with questions about their approach to therapy and what you can expect from a typical session. And when dealing with a non-Black therapist, asking about their experience in treating Black patients is key. “Ask explicitly if they are comfortable talking about race and racism and any issues that are important to you, and notice how they react,” says Dr. White. “If the question makes them squirm, if it gives them pause, if they display discomfort, then they may not be the right person for you.”

Dr. Crawford says when it comes to evaluating a non-Black therapist for your child, consider the artwork in the office, what books are on the shelves, and the color of the dolls in the room. “Ask yourself if this is an environment that communicates that all are welcome.”

Once you’ve chosen a clinician, remember those initial sessions with any mental health provider, no matter their race, can feel uncomfortable. “They’re asking a lot of questions and prying into very personal information in a way that may make you feel uneasy,” says Dr. Boyd. “It’s important that you give it a chance.”

Check in with your child regularly about their comfort level with the provider and schedule regular meetings with the provider to make sure everyone is on the same page. And after some time, if you feel like your kid doesn’t feel comfortable, you’re not seeing progress, or you’re unhappy with your interactions, have an open conversation about whether they’re still a good fit. “Therapists are trained to navigate these conversations,” Dr. Crawford says. “And parents should feel empowered to be active participants in their child’s mental health treatment.”

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-black-parents-and-the-importance-of-cultural-competence-in-therapy-3/

One of the first funerals I attended that wasn’t a relative was that of an old school friend. Everyone adored Sally – she was so clever, funny, cool and cha

One of the first funerals I attended that wasn’t a relative was that of an old school friend. Everyone adored Sally – she was so clever, funny, cool and cha

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-i-didnt-see-my-friends-suicide-coming-and-as-a-nation-were-blind-to-mental-health/

James Donaldson on Mental Health - I didn’t see my friend’s suicide coming – and as a nation, we’re blind to mental health

One of the first funerals I attended that wasn’t a relative was that of an old school friend. Everyone adored Sally – she was so clever, funny, cool and charming. That she died by suicide absolutely floored me.

Of literally anyone I have ever met, Sally would have seemed the least likely to do so. I thought of Sally as I listened to Prince William on Radio 1 calling the taboos around mental health and suicide prevention “a national catastrophe” and again as I read the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) today warning that there is a “silent mental health pandemic” affecting people across England, because of stigma minimising funding, because people “can’t see” mental illness.

“People can’t see it, they think it’s not as important," said Dr Lade Smith, pointing out that mental health gets under 9 per cent of NHS funding despite comprising 20 per cent of Britain’s disease burden, and that health service money is more likely to be diverted to people waiting on trolleys in corridors because “the cog that squeaks gets the oil”.

I couldn’t “see” Sally’s illness, but that didn’t stop her from dying.

England, historically, is not a squeaky country. We pride ourselves on our stoicism, even at the same time as being nimby-ish. The old Monty Python joke of the Black Knight missing both arms and stating, “It’s just a flesh wound,” is underpinned by our relatives drawing a silent line around what they experienced in wartime.

Yet, staggeringly, less than a third of people who need mental health care can access it. For the longest time, it was because we didn’t know that we did need it. If reasonably wealthy, the “absent-minded” or “eccentric” man was held together by a team of secretaries and, most likely, a wife.

Shame has long been used to “treat” mental health problems in the UK. Shame has suppressed it, making people live horrified and secretive lives. What is now PTSD was known as “lack of moral fibre” in the RAF during the Second World War to shame psychological casualties into returning to active duties.

I hadn’t faced anything like that. I was just a little girl, clever and tall, and so moved up a year at school at seven. I was 10 when I first tried alcohol and developed the binge-eating disorder that wouldn’t be identified until I was 35. Twelve, when I developed the insomnia, depression and anxiety that I wouldn’t be treated for until I was 18 and outlining how to kill myself.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation
website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

Click Here For More Information About James Donaldson

Click here to follow James Donaldson's Blog

Yet all this happened quite silently. I didn’t want to bother anyone. Indeed, I genuinely only didn’t kill myself because I didn’t want someone to have to find my body. I used alcohol and cigarettes as an escape, but otherwise I was trapped by my own, terrifying brain for decades.

All that while I worked, I studied and fulfilled my social responsibilities and filed my tax returns. Does that make me more or less deserving of relief? The cost of a “silent” mental health crisis must be paid. I paid it when I had physical health problems in my late thirties, which meant that all the invisible pain I had been carrying since I was a little girl was transferred onto the visible pain that was socially understood.

There is always a cost. Investing in those people – and yes, those children – who are suffering is not only a pragmatic way to address economic inactivity in the UK, but a kind way to help people to live rather than to simply endure. Suicide is the leading cause of death among men under 50 in the UK, and 75 per cent of all people who die by suicide are male. An average of 19 people died by suicide every day in 2023. Now, imagine the number of people living with that pain.

I do accept that the burden on the state is significant. I also believe the government cannot have its cake and eat it, too, regarding SEND (special educational needs and disabilities), welfare, and the economically inactive. According to the RCP, up to 80 per cent of mental illnesses are driven by poverty, debt, trauma and other social determinants. If the government wants more people to be in work, it requires children to receive a diagnosis and support from a young age, so that they don’t fall through the cracks into Neet (not in education, employment or training). It requires sensible thinking on hybrid, remote and part-time working (all of which your gentle author and her fellow columnists benefit from – as indeed do our MPs). And it probably requires a judicious muting of the landlord-sponsored blasts on how everyone who works from home is a laundry-addicted lazybones, and that work is only work if you tap into a building once a day. Some of the laziest people I’ve ever met have been gold stars of presenteeism, counting down until retirement.

Above all, it requires understanding. Everyone knows someone who has struggled – or worse – with invisible health issues. The silent pandemic of mental illness has only ever been silent to keep things looking nice and polite. When it becomes too much of an effort to stay silent, the reverberations are truly shocking.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.

https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-i-didnt-see-my-friends-suicide-coming-and-as-a-nation-were-blind-to-mental-health/

One of the first funerals I attended that wasn’t a relative was that of an old school friend. Everyone adored Sally – she was so clever, funny, cool and charming. That she died by suicide absolutely floored me.

Of literally anyone I have ever met, Sally would have seemed the least likely to do so. I thought of Sally as I listened to Prince William on Radio 1 calling the taboos around mental health and suicide prevention “a national catastrophe” and again as I read the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) today warning that there is a “silent mental health pandemic” affecting people across England, because of stigma minimising funding, because people “can’t see” mental illness.

“People can’t see it, they think it’s not as important," said Dr Lade Smith, pointing out that mental health gets under 9 per cent of NHS funding despite comprising 20 per cent of Britain’s disease burden, and that health service money is more likely to be diverted to people waiting on trolleys in corridors because “the cog that squeaks gets the oil”.

I couldn’t “see” Sally’s illness, but that didn’t stop her from dying.

England, historically, is not a squeaky country. We pride ourselves on our stoicism, even at the same time as being nimby-ish. The old Monty Python joke of the Black Knight missing both arms and stating, “It’s just a flesh wound,” is underpinned by our relatives drawing a silent line around what they experienced in wartime.

Yet, staggeringly, less than a third of people who need mental health care can access it. For the longest time, it was because we didn’t know that we did need it. If reasonably wealthy, the “absent-minded” or “eccentric” man was held together by a team of secretaries and, most likely, a wife.

Shame has long been used to “treat” mental health problems in the UK. Shame has suppressed it, making people live horrified and secretive lives. What is now PTSD was known as “lack of moral fibre” in the RAF during the Second World War to shame psychological casualties into returning to active duties.

I hadn’t faced anything like that. I was just a little girl, clever and tall, and so moved up a year at school at seven. I was 10 when I first tried alcohol and developed the binge-eating disorder that wouldn’t be identified until I was 35. Twelve, when I developed the insomnia, depression and anxiety that I wouldn’t be treated for until I was 18 and outlining how to kill myself.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

Click Here For More Information About James Donaldson

Click here to follow James Donaldson's Blog

Yet all this happened quite silently. I didn’t want to bother anyone. Indeed, I genuinely only didn’t kill myself because I didn’t want someone to have to find my body. I used alcohol and cigarettes as an escape, but otherwise I was trapped by my own, terrifying brain for decades.

All that while I worked, I studied and fulfilled my social responsibilities and filed my tax returns. Does that make me more or less deserving of relief? The cost of a “silent” mental health crisis must be paid. I paid it when I had physical health problems in my late thirties, which meant that all the invisible pain I had been carrying since I was a little girl was transferred onto the visible pain that was socially understood.

There is always a cost. Investing in those people – and yes, those children – who are suffering is not only a pragmatic way to address economic inactivity in the UK, but a kind way to help people to live rather than to simply endure. Suicide is the leading cause of death among men under 50 in the UK, and 75 per cent of all people who die by suicide are male. An average of 19 people died by suicide every day in 2023. Now, imagine the number of people living with that pain.

I do accept that the burden on the state is significant. I also believe the government cannot have its cake and eat it, too, regarding SEND (special educational needs and disabilities), welfare, and the economically inactive. According to the RCP, up to 80 per cent of mental illnesses are driven by poverty, debt, trauma and other social determinants. If the government wants more people to be in work, it requires children to receive a diagnosis and support from a young age, so that they don’t fall through the cracks into Neet (not in education, employment or training). It requires sensible thinking on hybrid, remote and part-time working (all of which your gentle author and her fellow columnists benefit from – as indeed do our MPs). And it probably requires a judicious muting of the landlord-sponsored blasts on how everyone who works from home is a laundry-addicted lazybones, and that work is only work if you tap into a building once a day. Some of the laziest people I’ve ever met have been gold stars of presenteeism, counting down until retirement.

Above all, it requires understanding. Everyone knows someone who has struggled – or worse – with invisible health issues. The silent pandemic of mental illness has only ever been silent to keep things looking nice and polite. When it becomes too much of an effort to stay silent, the reverberations are truly shocking.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=16552

And how to discuss treatment options with cultural sensitivity

Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com

Writer: Faith Wilkins

Clinical Experts: Rhonda Boyd, PhD , Jonathan Shepherd, MD , Robert Harris

What You'll Learn

- What is the historical context of Black parents' skepticism of medication treatment for their children?

- How can providers talk to skeptical parents about treatment options?

- How can Black parents advocate for their child when they disagree with the prescribed treatment?

- The history of overmedicating Black patients  

- How are Black children directly impacted?

- How can clinicians work with skeptical parents?

- How can parents advocate for their child?

“Iam deeply concerned that mental health services will rely too heavily on medication rather than seeking the root cause.”

This sentiment — expressed by a participant in a recent study that explores the views and experiences of Black families and young adults seeking mental health care — reflects a common concern within the Black community.

The study, conducted by the Child Mind Institute in partnership with The Steve Fund, included a nationally representative survey of 1,000 Black parents seeking mental health care for their children and 500 young adults seeking care for themselves. When asked about their concerns around mental health care, about half of the respondents (both parents and young adults) agreed that “mental health professionals are too quick to prescribe medication for mental health issues.”

This sense of mistrust around medication treatment is also reflected in other studies. For instance, a 2021 review of data on African American caregivers deciding whether or not to give children with ADHD medication, caregivers were less likely to trust the efficacy of the medication and were more concerned about side effects and addiction than white caregivers.

“I work in an integrated mental health system, which includes psychiatry. So, concerns about medication come up a lot,” says Rhonda Boyd, PhD, a mental health advisor for The Steve Fund, psychologist, and associate director of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Child and Adolescent Mood Program. “Black families in particular want to start with therapy first and see how it works before considering medication if therapy is not working.”

One source of medication reluctance, Dr. Boyd says, is concern about side effects — will it stunt their child’s growth? But it also may come from feeling pressure from schools. “Schools oftentimes refer kids for treatment if the kid’s behavior is disruptive, which could be for a number of reasons. And that’s where the pressure comes in — you have to do this, or we can’t treat your child in a regular classroom. They may not even be able to be in this school.”

But concerns about medication run deeper, in no small part because of the historical use of psychiatric medication to silence and control Black people in the United States. 

The history of overmedicating Black patients  

Historically, the overmedication of Black patients in the mental health care system has been linked to their frequent misdiagnosis. The background of schizophrenia characterization and diagnosis is a clear example.

In the late 1950’s, as psychiatric hospital wards began to desegregate and the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum, the second edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-II) was published. Schizophrenia previously had been separated into subtypes, including “paranoid schizophrenia,” which was characterized by delusions and/or frequent auditory hallucinations. But in the DSM-II, researchers redefined characteristics of that subtype as a “masculinized belligerence” in which patients displayed violent delusions, hostility, and aggression. Based on racial bias, researchers and clinicians began to associate this type of schizophrenia with Black patients — specifically Black men. Schizophrenia diagnoses among Black individuals drastically increased, and by 1969, the National Institute of Mental Health found that Black patients had “a 65% higher rate of schizophrenia” than white patients.

As more Black people were diagnosed with schizophrenia, psychiatrists started to conflate civil unrest with the disorder’s “violent delusions” characteristic. Two prominent New York psychiatrists coined the term, “protest psychosis,” arguing that Black Liberation rhetoric and art caused hallucinations and acts of violence among Black men. In response, clinicians argued Black patients should be given higher doses of tranquilizing antipsychotic medication to quell these violent tendencies. For Black patients, medication transitioned from treatment to a form of control.

While the language in theDSM has since changed, recent studies have shown that Black Americans are still 2.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than their white counterparts. Additionally, researchers have found that Black patients are more likely to receive higher doses of long-acting antipsychotic drugs — indicating a persistent belief among providers that Black patients not only need more medication than typically necessary but are also less likely to take it as prescribed.  

How are Black children directly impacted?

This idea that Black people are inherently more prone to violence and disruption continues to be perpetuated to this day. And in classrooms, Black children are much more likely to be viewed as disruptive or displaying behavioral challenges than their white counterparts.

“If Black and brown children display behavioral challenges like biting or hitting — things that you may see in the pre-K years or early childhood years where this type of behavior is developmentally appropriate — these children are seen as more aggressive, more forceful, and much more of a concern,” explains Robert Harris, an early childhood intervention supervisor for the D.C. Healthy Futures Program.

Worried about the disruption in learning, educators are quick to find a solution — and this most likely involves referring the child to a mental health professional. But according to Harris, “Even in the referral process and the description of the challenge, they tend to lean towards or hint at the use of medication to mitigate this issue that may exist. This is before parents have even spoken to a mental health professional.”

So, by the time parents are consulting a provider, they may already have their guard up, especially if that provider goes on to prescribe medication for their child’s mental health issues.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

Click Here For More Information About James Donaldson

Click here to follow James Donaldson's Blog

How can clinicians work with skeptical parents?

Clinicians worry that in some cases, reluctance towards medication treatment runs the risk of impeding a child’s quality of life. “Negative perceptions about medication can delay treatment longer than you want,” says Dr. Boyd. “If someone has severe depression, for instance, what is recommended is both therapy and medication at the same time to get the kid out of that episode. I understand exactly why parents have concerns, but it can be frustrating.”

To find the best solution for the child’s mental health challenges, the first critical step is to create a comfortable and collaborative environment, according to Jonathan Shepherd, MD, a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who is chief clinical officer at DC Department of Behavioral Health. “For those initial appointments, I do my best to develop a form of trust where they feel comfortable enough with me,” he says.

And to do so, Dr. Shepherd suggests the following:   

- Educate yourself. Dr. Shepherd points out that when a mental health professional isn’t Black, it’s hard for Black patients to feel like the provider will understand where they’re coming from. Given the history of mistreatment of Black patients, there’s a hesitancy to even reach out to a provider. “You have to understand what that person may be going through or what environment they live in. It’s very difficult for people who don’t understand Black culture to be able to say, ‘I understand what it took for you to even come see the doctor.’” So, it’s important for non-Black providers, especially, to take that extra step and educate themselves on the history of mental health in the Black community.

- Listen to their concerns and answer every question. When encountering parents who are wary of treating their child with medication, Dr. Shepherd starts the conversation by saying, “You have every right to be skeptical and hesitant regarding care for your children. I get it. It is scary to think about providing a medication for your child, or your child having to take a pill and you don’t know what that pill may do. But that’s where the experts come in. Now, what I will not do is force my help on you, but I will work alongside you to guide you through the process.

- Be patient and meet them where they’re at. Dr. Shepherd acknowledges that after he explains why he’s prescribing the medication, describes the side effects, and answers every question, he still might face some resistance from a parent — and that’s okay. Instead of pushing, he schedules a follow-up appointment to continue the conversation at a different time. He also provides them with some helpful resources to gain more information about different treatment options. “You have to be very careful about the websites that people are going to, to seek out information. So, steer them in the right direction.”

How can parents advocate for their child?

When a school is pushing for a quick solution to a child’s disruptive behavior, such as medication treatment, parents may feel backed into a corner. Harris wants them to know that there’s still a choice. And if you feel uncomfortable with what you’re being told, you can say, “Yeah, when you said this, it really made me feel like I needed to go for medication.” This way, says Harris, educators might take a step back and re-evaluate how they approach the situation.

He also reiterates the importance of parents arming themselves with the knowledge of early signs to look for in their child, whether it’s a behavioral issue, mental health disorder, or learning challenge. “I think that’s why mental health consultation, particularly for infant and early childhood is paramount, because through education, we provide families as well as professionals with an understanding of what’s appropriate, what’s typical, what’s developmentally acceptable, and what you should expect.” For instance, it can be helpful for parents to know that there are several alternatives to medication treatment for disruptive behavior in a classroom, such as therapy, parent training,  specialized programs, and a change in classroom structure.

And in a clinical setting, Dr. Shepherd says, if you’re feeling skeptical about what your provider has prescribed for your child, you can start by making it clear to them that you don’t feel like they’re hearing you. “You can say, ‘I’m not sure if we’re hearing one another. I’m not sure that we are on the same page regarding what I’m saying I see in my child or what I think is necessary for my child at this point in time.’”

And that’s when it’s important to pay attention to the provider’s reaction, says Dr. Shepherd. Are they receptive to what you have to say? Are they open to answering questions or engaging in a dialogue about different treatment options? “Someone who does not allow you to ask questions or glosses over your questions, that’s a physician that you should run from.”

When parents and providers are able to have the tools and language they need to enter these types of conversations, it can make finding the solution to a child’s mental health challenges much easier.

Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=16549

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Why Are Black Parents Concerned About Medication Treatment?

And how to discuss treatment options with cultural sensitivity

Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com

Writer: Faith Wilkins

Clinical Experts: Rhonda Boyd, PhD , Jonathan Shepherd, MD , Robert Harris

What You'll Learn

- What is the historical context of Black parents' skepticism of medication treatment for their children?
- How can providers talk to skeptical parents about treatment options?
- How can Black parents advocate for their child when they disagree with the prescribed treatment?
- The history of overmedicating Black patients  
- How are Black children directly impacted?
- How can clinicians work with skeptical parents?
- How can parents advocate for their child?

“Iam deeply concerned that mental health services will rely too heavily on medication rather than seeking the root cause.”

This sentiment — expressed by a participant in a recent study that explores the views and experiences of Black families and young adults seeking mental health care — reflects a common concern within the Black community.

The study, conducted by the Child Mind Institute in partnership with The Steve Fund, included a nationally representative survey of 1,000 Black parents seeking mental health care for their children and 500 young adults seeking care for themselves. When asked about their concerns around mental health care, about half of the respondents (both parents and young adults) agreed that “mental health professionals are too quick to prescribe medication for mental health issues.”

This sense of mistrust around medication treatment is also reflected in other studies. For instance, a 2021 review of data on African American caregivers deciding whether or not to give children with ADHD medication, caregivers were less likely to trust the efficacy of the medication and were more concerned about side effects and addiction than white caregivers.

“I work in an integrated mental health system, which includes psychiatry. So, concerns about medication come up a lot,” says Rhonda Boyd, PhD, a mental health advisor for The Steve Fund, psychologist, and associate director of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Child and Adolescent Mood Program. “Black families in particular want to start with therapy first and see how it works before considering medication if therapy is not working.”

One source of medication reluctance, Dr. Boyd says, is concern about side effects — will it stunt their child’s growth? But it also may come from feeling pressure from schools. “Schools oftentimes refer kids for treatment if the kid’s behavior is disruptive, which could be for a number of reasons. And that’s where the pressure comes in — you have to do this, or we can’t treat your child in a regular classroom. They may not even be able to be in this school.”

But concerns about medication run deeper, in no small part because of the historical use of psychiatric medication to silence and control Black people in the United States. 

The history of overmedicating Black patients  

Historically, the overmedication of Black patients in the mental health care system has been linked to their frequent misdiagnosis. The background of schizophrenia characterization and diagnosis is a clear example.

In the late 1950’s, as psychiatric hospital wards began to desegregate and the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum, the second edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-II) was published. Schizophrenia previously had been separated into subtypes, including “paranoid schizophrenia,” which was characterized by delusions and/or frequent auditory hallucinations. But in the DSM-II, researchers redefined characteristics of that subtype as a “masculinized belligerence” in which patients displayed violent delusions, hostility, and aggression. Based on racial bias, researchers and clinicians began to associate this type of schizophrenia with Black patients — specifically Black men. Schizophrenia diagnoses among Black individuals drastically increased, and by 1969, the National Institute of Mental Health found that Black patients had “a 65% higher rate of schizophrenia” than white patients.

As more Black people were diagnosed with schizophrenia, psychiatrists started to conflate civil unrest with the disorder’s “violent delusions” characteristic. Two prominent New York psychiatrists coined the term, “protest psychosis,” arguing that Black Liberation rhetoric and art caused hallucinations and acts of violence among Black men. In response, clinicians argued Black patients should be given higher doses of tranquilizing antipsychotic medication to quell these violent tendencies. For Black patients, medication transitioned from treatment to a form of control.

While the language in theDSM has since changed, recent studies have shown that Black Americans are still 2.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than their white counterparts. Additionally, researchers have found that Black patients are more likely to receive higher doses of long-acting antipsychotic drugs — indicating a persistent belief among providers that Black patients not only need more medication than typically necessary but are also less likely to take it as prescribed.  

How are Black children directly impacted?

This idea that Black people are inherently more prone to violence and disruption continues to be perpetuated to this day. And in classrooms, Black children are much more likely to be viewed as disruptive or displaying behavioral challenges than their white counterparts.

“If Black and brown children display behavioral challenges like biting or hitting — things that you may see in the pre-K years or early childhood years where this type of behavior is developmentally appropriate — these children are seen as more aggressive, more forceful, and much more of a concern,” explains Robert Harris, an early childhood intervention supervisor for the D.C. Healthy Futures Program.

Worried about the disruption in learning, educators are quick to find a solution — and this most likely involves referring the child to a mental health professional. But according to Harris, “Even in the referral process and the description of the challenge, they tend to lean towards or hint at the use of medication to mitigate this issue that may exist. This is before parents have even spoken to a mental health professional.”

So, by the time parents are consulting a provider, they may already have their guard up, especially if that provider goes on to prescribe medication for their child’s mental health issues.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation
website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

Click Here For More Information About James Donaldson

Click here to follow James Donaldson's Blog

How can clinicians work with skeptical parents?

Clinicians worry that in some cases, reluctance towards medication treatment runs the risk of impeding a child’s quality of life. “Negative perceptions about medication can delay treatment longer than you want,” says Dr. Boyd. “If someone has severe depression, for instance, what is recommended is both therapy and medication at the same time to get the kid out of that episode. I understand exactly why parents have concerns, but it can be frustrating.”

To find the best solution for the child’s mental health challenges, the first critical step is to create a comfortable and collaborative environment, according to Jonathan Shepherd, MD, a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who is chief clinical officer at DC Department of Behavioral Health. “For those initial appointments, I do my best to develop a form of trust where they feel comfortable enough with me,” he says.

And to do so, Dr. Shepherd suggests the following:   

- Educate yourself. Dr. Shepherd points out that when a mental health professional isn’t Black, it’s hard for Black patients to feel like the provider will understand where they’re coming from. Given the history of mistreatment of Black patients, there’s a hesitancy to even reach out to a provider. “You have to understand what that person may be going through or what environment they live in. It’s very difficult for people who don’t understand Black culture to be able to say, ‘I understand what it took for you to even come see the doctor.’” So, it’s important for non-Black providers, especially, to take that extra step and educate themselves on the history of mental health in the Black community.
- Listen to their concerns and answer every question. When encountering parents who are wary of treating their child with medication, Dr. Shepherd starts the conversation by saying, “You have every right to be skeptical and hesitant regarding care for your children. I get it. It is scary to think about providing a medication for your child, or your child having to take a pill and you don’t know what that pill may do. But that’s where the experts come in. Now, what I will not do is force my help on you, but I will work alongside you to guide you through the process.
- Be patient and meet them where they’re at. Dr. Shepherd acknowledges that after he explains why he’s prescribing the medication, describes the side effects, and answers every question, he still might face some resistance from a parent — and that’s okay. Instead of pushing, he schedules a follow-up appointment to continue the conversation at a different time. He also provides them with some helpful resources to gain more information about different treatment options. “You have to be very careful about the websites that people are going to, to seek out information. So, steer them in the right direction.”

How can parents advocate for their child?

When a school is pushing for a quick solution to a child’s disruptive behavior, such as medication treatment, parents may feel backed into a corner. Harris wants them to know that there’s still a choice. And if you feel uncomfortable with what you’re being told, you can say, “Yeah, when you said this, it really made me feel like I needed to go for medication.” This way, says Harris, educators might take a step back and re-evaluate how they approach the situation.

He also reiterates the importance of parents arming themselves with the knowledge of early signs to look for in their child, whether it’s a behavioral issue, mental health disorder, or learning challenge. “I think that’s why mental health consultation, particularly for infant and early childhood is paramount, because through education, we provide families as well as professionals with an understanding of what’s appropriate, what’s typical, what’s developmentally acceptable, and what you should expect.” For instance, it can be helpful for parents to know that there are several alternatives to medication treatment for disruptive behavior in a classroom, such as therapy, parent training,  specialized programs, and a change in classroom structure.

And in a clinical setting, Dr. Shepherd says, if you’re feeling skeptical about what your provider has prescribed for your child, you can start by making it clear to them that you don’t feel like they’re hearing you. “You can say, ‘I’m not sure if we’re hearing one another. I’m not sure that we are on the same page regarding what I’m saying I see in my child or what I think is necessary for my child at this point in time.’”

And that’s when it’s important to pay attention to the provider’s reaction, says Dr. Shepherd. Are they receptive to what you have to say? Are they open to answering questions or engaging in a dialogue about different treatment options? “Someone who does not allow you to ask questions or glosses over your questions, that’s a physician that you should run from.”

When parents and providers are able to have the tools and language they need to enter these types of conversations, it can make finding the solution to a child’s mental health challenges much easier.

Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com https://standingabovethecrowd.com/james-donaldson-on-mental-health-why-are-black-parents-concerned-about-medication-treatment-3/