Mental Illness in Our Community

A myth that is shunned and shamed. Denial that is self-medicated ineffectively with sex, alcohol and illicit drugs. Mental illness is the result of severe abuse, emotional and mental traumas. These scars are not easily seen, unless we take a closer look at the cause and the reactions.

Statistics show 37 percent of American children are reported to CPS (child protective services) every year, 54 percent are African American. One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually assaulted before the age of eighteen. 34 percent of those who sexually abuse are family members and 76.8 percent of the abuse is performed by adults.

A child who still wets the bed well into school age years. One who bullies and beats other kids with no remorse. The promiscuous teenager who becomes the whore as a young adult. The boy who beats his girlfriend and his wife.

Toxic experiences and toxic people bring about toxic behavior. Quiet as it’s kept, these tragic events are still taking place, still ignored with unbelief. The most common results of these crimes are bipolar, depression, social anxiety and suicide deaths. The taboo dose not only exist within the white community, it’s a closet secret of our black people too. A disturbing tradition, rite of passage of immorality and mental illness. My people please wake up and take action!

Source: Invisiblechildren.org

Sidenote: I’m a survivor of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.