Depression_In_African_Americans

Depression In African Americans Depression in the African American Community Mental health professionals state that clinical depression is a treatable illness that can strike everyone, it can be caused by biological factors, genetics, difficult life events, negative thinking patterns and, physical health problems. People that suffer from depression may not feel hopeful, happy about life or anything dealing with life’s ups or downs. They may cry a lot, stay away from friends and family, forgetfulness, anxious and worried all the time, the more serious think of death or suicide. This is not just a mood that one gets in; this is an imbalance in neurotransmitters (chemical in the brain) (Starling 4). 12 million people in the United States experience clinical depression. One in eight women develop clinical depression in a lifetime. Most women between the ages of 25 to 44 are in childbearing years, and thirty to fifty percent of them (blacks) are misdiagnosed because of cultural barriers, language, trust, and values between doctor an patient (NMHA 2). The National Mental Health Association has recorded that 63% of African American believe that depression is a personal weakness, 31% believed it is a health problem, 30% could handle it themselves, and depression, black, women, health, one, mental, because, problems, help, african, woman, take, national, jennifer, family, care, blacks, weight, treatment, time, leary, doctor, association, american, about, seek, problem, march, home, community, being, white, two, suicide, starling