On May 4th, 2022- Beautiful Black Student, Arlana Miller, Committed Suicide, Leaving Open Suicide Note on Instagram

On May 4th, 2022, a beautiful young Black woman by the name of Arlana Miller wrote her final suicide note on instagram and then took her life. Her family panicked when they saw it, searched for her but to no avail. From what I understand, she was later found in a Mississippi River. In her note, which I will post in full below, she mentions water and peace… I write this with shaking hands, because this should have been known about and spread all over the place on May 4th, 2022.

While her instagram post has been removed, I feel it is important to share it. She shared it; she wanted these words to be heard. And she clearly wanted people to learn from what she went through and learn from what she felt was a hopeless position. Black suicide is rising, especially among children but not solely among children. And 19 years old is not what I consider to be an adult, either. She was under too much pressure, all of which it seems she felt she had to keep to herself.

And that is another reason posting the suicide note she wrote publicly is so vital, in my opinion. More attention needs to go into learning the signs of depression and other mental illnesses, more attention needs to be given to reenforcing the knowledge that it is okay to be depressed, and it is okay to reach out for help when you are anywhere close to the line of feeling suicidal.

There is no shame in mental illness except the stigma associated with it and the community maintaining a taboo outlook on speaking of anything related to mental health. It’s not only a white issue, clearly. She notes that she wishes her granddad was still alive to tell her it’s not worth it, that she is being “stupid”- but he had already passed on, and I suppose she felt she could go to no one else.

“I have been surrounded by people who may have honestly thought that I was okay, but I havn’t been okay for a while,”  

She also makes a request of others:

“To the people in my life I pray you learn to vocalize your feelings and get help always!!! I failed at that and I’m afraid it’s too late,”

Who is Arlana Mille?

She was a beautiful Black female attending Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge with a major in . a cheerleader and struggled with depression for along time…in her own words,

“May this day bring me peace. I have fought the urge since my early teenage years. I gave this life all the fight I had. To everyone who has entered my life, I’m so grateful and I can only imagine how this may find you. I have been surrounded by people who may have honestly thought that I was okay, but I haven’t been okay for a while.”

She adds further along something every single person needs to hear:

“I hope this teaches everyone to check on your “strong” friends, be present always! I’m contradicting myself but NEVER give up!!! I know that I’m letting a lot of people down by what I’m about to do, but truth is I have already let down so many people throughout my life and it just feels unbearable.”

I have no words to express the sadness I feel over yet another loss, a loss which could have been prevented. This is a common problem; silence and judgment from stigma related to feeling their emotions are not worth discussing, or, having no one to discuss them with.

What is more is that this happened on May 4th of this year. I found out about it by chance, why was this not all over twitter? Why is her death silent? Especially after posting a public suicide note. We all know why it is silent; and that is even more reason why I ask you to please share this…

Too many people are suffering in silence just as she was…especially in the Black community. Action needs to be taken, steps need to be made to help destigmatize mental illness and help prevent the increasing number of suicides…

And here is her heartbreaking farewell note, which she posted to instagram before taking her life.

To this beautiful young woman… I hope you have found peace, and I hope your new journey is beautiful and blesses you abundantly. I did not know you personally, but your words and story have left an impression on my heart so that I will never forget you. I am so sorry you found yourself feeling this was the only way, you are forever cherished and loved and missed. No one can take your place in this world; a part of the world is forever gone now and the world will be a little less bright without you in it.

Time To Talk About Mental Health in The Black Community; 12 Books By Black Authors Follow

Black mental health is not taken seriously enough; it is very discouraging and very frustrating but I am hoping the more the community discusses it, the more people will realize that;

1) no, mental health doesn’t make you crazy
2) no, mental illnesss(es) are not for white people only
3) sadly, the denial to talk about emotions & the lack of discussing mental health in the community among Black adults and especially children, is continuing to let suicide run rampant -especially among those whom are not adults.

All Black lives matter, regardless of age, but when we have children as young as 5 and older attempting -succeeding- in taking their lives due to the trauma of racism in America, and bullying at school more often than not. Here is but one story, that of a beautiful 9 year old Black little girl.

Or what about all the missing Black women and girls? Why is there no outrage over that?

It is hard to talk about, but we have legal killings by capital punishment killing the Black community, or stealing fathers from families, much of the time due to self defense, drugs (which the white community is not absent of, so no one has any right to look down on anyone) -drug offenders do not need prison but that is another article- and a multitude of other ‘crimes’ later -far too often too much later- found to be innocent of said crime by DNA testing, but it’s took late because they’ve already been executed by the government. Or released after 60 years of serving a sentence they were innocent for.

And it is as though it’s become so common place everyone just looks the other way. FUCK THAT!

Or the police, who are here to not serve and protect, who are feared by most and how can anyone question why? They do not just murder, I would like to add. The beatings and other cases I have worked on in the past, that I want to update regarding both the victim and the killer(s) or abuser(s), are far more sick than I think anyone understands. Working nationally over 10 years as legal aid and as a counselor to victims I have a lot of confidential incidents I cannot share but there are also no shortage of ones I can share, sadly.

We have gang crime, which, I believe in just another form of suicide, and will go into those details at another time. But it’s taken kids lives, along with the drugs implemented by the government, as they admit or you can dig deep enough yourself to find these truths, if you are willing…

Suicide and self destructive of any sort, be it drugs, alcohol, knives, guns, wreckless behaviors that would get most white teens therapy are ending the lives of those in the Black community.

I focus on the children a lot; but we need the adults to step up initially, I believe, and show these children it is okay to speak about their emotions; show them it is okay to be upset and hurt. We need to educate them more and prepare them… We also need to ensure Black women and men know that they can call on a friend or a family member and reach out when feeling depressed, suicidal or just “off” and know they won’t be judged.

Below are from BlackMentalHealth.com which I hope you will check out as well. For now, here are a few, 12 to be exact… I’ve read many of them, especially Black Pain, number 12 on the list, and highly suggest it…

It’s gonna take Black men and women to first accept mental illness, especially understand how NORMAL it is for the trauma that the American government, school systems and society has caused for hundreds of years! Racism is trauma; and children are being more and more traumatized with Black children under the age of 11 and suicide still steadily rising since the early 1990s.

Black children aren’t going to talk about their problems if they see the adults can’t talk about theirs or if no one tells them it’s okay. Suicide is preventable; mental health is vital and it also impacts the physical but that’s for another article.

Please, consider reading and learning for yourself, for your loved ones and for the kids… For the COMMUNITY. There are far too many methods of legal murder in this country; taking a life by ones own hand should be the easiest one to put an end to as much as possible, if only we are open about it…

Link to books HERE.

Black Suicide Is Hard To Talk About, But WE MUST! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2774107

And this is not just in Maryland, and it is not just due to COVID related issues!

I will post more soon; but this is urgent.

Video-Black Mental Health Matters- Black Male Speaks Out & Talks About Mental Illness Project

This is a VERY IMPORTANT video…. I hope you will watch it; this Black man tells his story, he was diagnosed with Major Depression, Trauma, …. please, please help stop the stigma in the Black community…and please listen to this man who is so brave to get up and share his story…

There is no shame in mental illness. It usually stems from trauma, and it can lead to physical illnesses that can and do kill like heart disease, high blood pressure and more.

For now, please listen… Or check out his program, HERE, where he is teaching barbers to be mental health advocates as well as helping them to connect with therapists to assist these Black men who need some help, even further, he is seeking and working to help Black children and women; the family system, in the Black community… His projects and ideas are so on point; I hope you will listen…

And there is nothing but PRIDE in that.

Please, check him out.

New Video Up – Systematic Racism, Trauma, Children and APA Makes A Promise

The past few years I’ve been doing noting but studying, however, to convey and share that with anyone via blog or video was somehow too much. I am in a position in life that has left me lost, but I won’t go on about that. I have decided it’s time I do what I know I am here to do, and so…

There will be some changes to my YouTube page, and in the following video I cover that, I also talk about the American Psychiatric Association and their admission to systematic racism that cost us research which could have potentially helped saved Black children under the age of 10 who are attempting and also succeeding suicide.

They have made a pledge; the link is in the description in the video.

Thank you guys for staying, I hopefully am going to do better this time. YOUR FEED BACK HELPS; good or bad… Please feel free to message me, email me or comment. My email is noctem_aeternamx@yahoo.com

Here is to a new beginning…

The Importance of TRUE Black History

The importance of Black history is crucial; the accuracy of this history is even more crucial. Black history should be given the same amount of time, depth and attention as white European history… This is obvious.

But the link between the lack of Black history and the predominance of mental health issues is far deeper than we are acknowledging. The power of our ancestors, of all the things that have been done before us, have been uninterrupted as the people untied and stood up against the hate. The power in the Black and African communities when united, within the community alone let alone in this world, needs to not only be remembered, but shared and celebrated; and emulate the strengths and finally get credit for the contributions made but never paid for by acknowledgment or money.

It’s time we start focusing more on history, real history, not only for our sake but for the children.

Mental Health: The Black Church — Mental Wealth

“So we accept and hide our emotional mental turmoil and go to church where it gets worse. We follow the rules of some self serving overbearing power hungry undercover sexual deviant. I speak flippantly and no not all of them are money hungry sexual de aunts but many are.  Church is big business these days, pastors have private jets, hareems of women, wear only designer.  The church in Jamaica has a congregation filled to the brim with designer clothes, I went to use th bath room, realized I should have taken a short plumbing course to use the facilities as the water tank was not filled up and it would not flush so I had to pour water in the toilet to flush it.  Yet the congregation look well and in their Prada, Gucci, Armani, even the tags hanging outside the clothes to demonstrate that they bought it new. “

 

Church, the Christian faith the black version of Christianity. I am talking about the clap hand dancing, singing pastor jumping church. Church was not a time to sit and listen, it is entertainment, audience participation, shouting, jumping. Followed close by with the chastisement the judgments the process of individuality No point in pretending I am […]

via Mental Health: The Black Church — Mental Wealth

Intervention is Key to Brain Development; So Why Are the Immensely Traumatized Not Receiving It?

While this may not be a large reason Black children are seen taking their lives at such a high rate, it is impacting their mental health and it is time someone says something.

As neurobiological research shows, children’s very brain development can be altered by violence. This is why intervention is so vital; but what happens when intervention isn’t received, be it due to lack of access or due to disbelief in mental health; or perhaps it is so on going it isn’t even an after thought?

Do not get me wrong, the shootings at columbine and other school shooting are sad. But what about the kids who live in fear, day by day, because of shootings? I have been angry that no light has been shed on these children for a long time, and as I do my research regarding why Black children are taking their lives so early, it enrages me even more.

While I do agree that more Black therapists and psychologists are needed -because these children face what no white or any other ‘color’ can comprehend on a personal level- someone needs to be doing something. It’s not fair these kids are being alienated and shoved aside while these predominately white schools are making headlines.

And receiving the help they need. No matter the color trauma impacts the brain and the brains development which impacts children unless intervention is created be it with therapy or some other form of counseling.

It also needs to be known that expressing your emotions is not weak, and that mental health is real. Another common factor vital to helping children, teens and adults heal is removal of the tragedy that traumatized the child. In communities faced with immense fear, who can’t even trust the police which so many white people take for granted and then have the nerve to say there is no white privilege; I think this short but factual post gives a little insight into what, I believe, was planned.

The government wants to keep the community in disarray and they are doing it with neglect and internal conflict. Something needs to be done, for suicide, homicide and for the unification of us all. They cannot be allowed to win- we MUST stop buying into their twisted game.

On that note, I will have a video and written post up sometime today or tomorrow as this all keeps taking turns in every direction given the immense problems faced due to denial, ignoring and degrading; all of which are wrong and damaging youth and children, the future, alike.

BlackGirlPodcast Speaks on Mental Health AND Personality Disorders! Must Listen!

While waiting for the next post and video I felt it crucial to post this. Mental health is stigmatized enough, but personality disorders in particular are something that most people -regardless of what ‘color’ they are or where they come from- tend to want to ignore, sadly.

WHAT ARE PERSONALITY DISORDERS?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) American Psychiatric Association (2013), personality disorders can be explained as follows:

” Personality is the way of thinking, feeling and behaving that makes a person different from other people. An individual’s personality is influenced by experiences, environment (surroundings, life situations) and inherited characteristics. A person’s personality typically stays the same over time. A personality disorder is a way of thinking, feeling and behaving that deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time. “

Read more about personality disorders here.

As someone who suffers from trauma related mental health issues, I know how shaming it may feel to admit, let alone have. It is hard enough sharing myself! And the stigma against personality disorders as a whole is not helped by the misunderstanding and stereotyping especially. In particular, borderline personality disorder is widely misrepresented as an abusive, controlling group of people who are all about themselves but in reality that is a rarity and the exact opposite is true.

Hollywood has taken disorders, such as Borderline PD, and misrepresented what they actually are. The majority of professionals in the medical field agree, mental illnesses and suffering should not be thrown about so carelessly, nor used for entertainment. I have to agree.

Back to the point.

I was excited to see a podcast by the name of BlackGirlPodcast not only speaking out on mental health; but on personality disorders as well! This is the sort of advancement the mental health community, especially within the Black community, need. I highly suggest educating oneself on personality disorders, and remembering there is no shame in having any mental illness. Reaching out for help is not weak, though it is understandable why so many don’t or rather, can’t. But that’s for another post.

In the episode spoken of, BlackGirlPodcast speaks with New York City based psychiatrist, Dr. Jessica Clemons, not only on mental health care, but even more impressive is their inclusion of about personality disorders and Black Mental Health Awareness.

Listen to Podcast

 

 

Introduction Post- Mental Health Series- What Is Coming-

I felt a need to write this introduction and give anyone who may be reading my upcoming posts an idea of what will be discussed… This post doesn’t hold the details I want to share but gives a small overview of what I will be sharing over the upcoming months.  I hope the introduction makes sense, if anyone has anything to add,  or any questions please, leave a comment or message me. P
lease note I will be covering the topic of Mental Health in the Black community in every aspect I’ve yet to come up with, but if you feel there is anything missing again, I please share.

It is important to know as a trigger warning that the upcoming posts will speak of topics such as suicide and mental health among all ages, including very young children. I will be sharing a few stories in detail and will put warnings on them also because I don’t want anyone triggered; on the contrary, -and I am sure you will- I hope everyone feels the disgust at this racist country and just how low it goes, I hope you will fell the sickness in the pit of your stomach and the rage in your veins as facts and information on mental health that has been ignored for far too long -especially suicide, and suicidal behaviors.

I will be discussing the current tragedy with the little children, children being 5- 12 years of age, first due to its intensity and rarity. Also I hope it will give reason for anyone who otherwise would not consider the very real concrete fact of mental illness, and be able to learn to embrace it, the mind is power… Just because a physical ailment isn’t held doesn’t lessen the severity or risk of death by any means.

My plan on doing this in sum is:

Posting this as a very brief introduction to let you guys know I haven’t backe dout, I just have been frustrated with compressing a topic that needs the opposite of compression. Splitting it into different posts should help with that. And these upcoming posts will consist of more detailed essays in relation to mental health, mental illness,  what it means and why it is not something to shun or be ashamed of.

Open dialogue is past due and I hope these posts can assist in finding a place of understanding or acceptance, for this has been shrugged off for far too long. It truly, truly is becoming an urgent epidemic and lives that could be saved if they only could speak out, are being lost for the inability, the “shame” and “embarrassment” – the “unmanly behavior” of speaking up and most importantly, speaking out, when you are struggling mentally.

Speaking from a psychological stand point, I will be discussing different types of trauma, what it does to the development of the human brain and the lasting impact it has when not addressed and that child worked with until they are able to move on. Kids, especially young, have an amazing resilience in them. Especially during the developmental stages. If trauma is stopped and proper care given -and the big one, the situation changed as well, a child can go on, more like than not, to live their lives without the trauma following them into adulthood and manifesting into a mental health crisis of any form.

With that, I will share what has been proven to work, but it will take the community to unify and for that we have to get this violence to stop. It is all the same source, just as Ta-Nehisi Coates talks about in Between the World and Me, I know it seems impossible; most of my loved ones think it a hopeless fight; but it isn’t. After this series, I will be posting facts, laws and policies formed on racism and still fueled by that same sick racist mentality. Knowledge is the key; the ancestors tell us that! Evil cannot last or win forever; it’s time is coming to an end = but we have to be aware, we must also take action… I admit I don’t know how to stop the violence, but there has to be a way… There HAS to be, it is not impossible.

And we start to create hope by working on figuring out what that exactly is we need to be doing to stop the insanity on the streets, and in the legal system. They don’t expect anyone to stand up against it; and for that reason it must be done.

A little bit more of things to come is a theory I want to share from a book I recently read. In fact, I last posted a review on that very book, Black Suicide. It’s a psychological theory of suicide by life style, in short, and I hope in some way it will open eyes and help everyone to aid in stopping the readiness to die in far too many young men and women.

I will be discussing the medical history of Black people in America and the cruel, unacceptable “treatments” forced upon innocent men, women and children- of course, this has an impact on how things are perceived today.

.What is really frustrating me is the repeated, “and we don’t know what the cause of this rise in suicide is”- it doesn’t take much brilliance to easily see the reasons in my opinion, which I will discuss in upcoming posts. And I truly beg  each and every reader to add their words to increase awareness, open communication and most importantly, help educate people on what sources there are for this relatively new research. [Research showed Black children and suicide to be a higher risk in the early 1990s. Not that it matters when it comes down to the facts, for those who want a stamp of validity on this topic, you have it now as finally, this research has been once again conducted, reviewed and confirmed as truth by JAMA and many other related American Medical Association (AMA) research journals.

As I have noted I will be sharing my research on how racism impacts the development and growth of Black children and youth. This research has taken me far beyond any realm I had before imagined I am sad to say. I want to share it with anyone willing to listen because racism, lack of family and denial of mental health care all are feeding a vicious, racist cycle.

I also believe it is important to explore the reasons, history, culture and other behind the taboo views of mental health within a great deal of the community. What can be done to stop, or help as much as possible, this tragic epidemic is my ultimate question and ideas will be shared however mine nor yours are any good unless first we can get across and grasp the fact that yes, mental illness is real and it does inflict its torment on people, all people are at risk for mental illness; be it something common as depression or more severe such as PTSD or personality disorders. There is no shame in this.

There is only shame in not being able to talk about it. In allowing trauma and illness to manifest in a people and expect them to deal with it, not speak on it, that is where the shame lies. That is where too many unwarranted deaths lie. That is where behavioral problems stem. Of all racial groups, I believe the Black community has an overwhelming amount of trauma to deal with daily that others don’t understand or know about.

The trauma of being targeted by those who are supposed to protect, by the government period and many other afflictions needs to be talked about. The place I believe we should start is with the children. It is here, with precious young, Black children research shows a peak in suicide, one that is only increasing. I’m talking about 4, 5 year olds taking their own life. This should be a national emergency, but it is not and that makes it even more important the people make sure to end the stigma, and open up about their own emotions, as well as learn how to help others; especially the children. 

 

 

Book Review: Between the World & Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those rare books that grab you by the core of your soul, refusing to let go. So I will start our with…

Wow. Simply wow.

This book was so powerful I had to put it down at times, to let this reality sink in. This book is eloquently written in the fashion of a letter; preparing him for life as a Black man in the country his ancestors built, the slavery and racism still felt today, the history and culture denied, along with justice in the legal system. What is it like to live your life in fear?

I challenge everyone to read this book; but above all I call on anyone who is not Black to read and let the reality so foreign come over you. Walk in his shoes through his childhood and his lessons, his fears, his love and pains. But this book doesn’t stop with racism against Blacks by non-Blacks, but being also part memoir, he delves into his childhood. Gangs, fear, thick fear, trying to act fearless; looking back and seeing who was the most afraid of all. He takes us to Howard University, where he for the first time gets to experience what he calls, “Black Mecca” for all the different nationalities and cultures among the beautiful Black men and women he saw around him. Police brutality hits him personally, and the tone is felt through out all of the book. Fatherless and/or broken homes, drug dealers and those lurking with guns -be it the local gangs or the police- the death and trauma he had experienced he doesn’t want for his son. That much is clear and no good father would; so he speaks of all different memories, and the moments behind each where, despite the good and joy, the weight of “his body” was ever present.

By that same note, however, he also doesn’t want to give his son false hope or false comfort. So, like his grandparents did to him, during more recent and actually televised police brutalities and murders, he describes what it feels like to be a father that cannot make the world safe for his son, and his son, indeed will grow up in, and already lives in, a dangerous world where he has to consider things, at times life or death choices, simple choices; choices he is only being tested on due to the color of his skin… These burdens fall down upon the Black youth as well as Mr. Coates son, and though cynical with the world he wants so painfully badly to believe things will be okay; so painfully it made me cry.

At times his pain, the pain he felt for his child, the realities they both face -along with my loved ones and friends, along with countless people alive right now I don’t know and never will, they all have the same fear… And it’s not one that spreads itself equally among the people. This is a fear that has locked on, for damn well good reasons, to so many.

This heartbreaking reality of being at a ‘privilege’ was never something I didn’t both see and hate growing up; but hearing a man speak out on how it is to live the side my friends and others live, cuts me deep and the guilt I feel for having pigmentation I don’t even want is very painful. But what would be worse would be to turn away; to pretend it isn’t there. To not fight it but abuse it.

I do not believe a white person who has compassion and wants to understand can ever again deny the fact of double standards- I saw these growing up and hated it then as I do now. It hurts realizing because you have light skin you’re likely not to be shot, beat, harassed, have the cops called on you for your dog playfully runs up to a white woman (that was in the news today)- Blacks and whites have different social worries; I’m not sure what whites have to fear nor why they are in denial of white privilege; especially after reading this book. 

HIGHLY recommended!

All I can say is beyond mind blowing. Everyone needs to be required to read this.. I will write a better review later, I must go now, but please, GO GET THIS BOOK!

View all my reviews

Random page with random knowledge on it. He

 

!Black Suicide-Book Review!

This book is full of information and stories from the suicides survivors; families, friends, etc. It is FREE TO READ on Amazon Unlimited, but this is one I had to go ahead and buy. Too much knowledge packed in.
Highly Suggested!
Black Suicide: The Tragic Reality of America’s Deadliest Secret by Alton R. Kirk

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are a few books that I believe need to be mandatory reading for anyone who is simply concerned for humanity, for the children, for mental health awareness. This book also will benefit anyone who is engaged in helping bring awareness to mental illness, for those who want and actively work to end the stigma towards mental illness and breaking the stigma there is towards it; especially within the Black community.

One thing Mr. Kirk speaks on is the different needs between the Black and white communities. This is no empty statement; he goes on to explain why this indication is true and afterwards, as sad as it is to me, he is right. I wish we lived in a world where color doesn’t matter in any community, but of course white people can’t understand the struggles, fears and worries Black people go through on a day to day basis; how, then, could the majority of white psychologists help other than show compassion and sorrow?

He goes out of his way to make a point that this is no mere book; and he proves that point with a break from the facts and information on what’s going on, and gives the floor to survivors of those who have taken their own lives. These people are brave, some of their family still so stuck in the stigmatism associated with mental health they don’t want others to know. Still, these people spoke out and it is there stories that turn this already tragic book into a reality; a reality that makes you want to take action, expose lies and help everyone realize there is nothing shaming, demeaning or anything else that would make a person less than a man due to struggling with mental health problems. It has nothing to do with manhood, strength or anything like that.

I also must add really quickly… I am so grateful he mentions that there is more than one type of suicide, and that is so very important to me for personal reasons. The different types of suicide he speaks out on include more than just the “conventional” (for lack of better phrasing) but also recklessness, dangerous behavior some people develop knowing they want to die. Putting oneself on the front line, so to speak, waiting for someone else to take their life. Instead of this we should be reaching out for one another, not taking another life.

It has to do with saving lives; and I hope if you are reading this review, no matter who you are, you will read this book and feel the same fire to help in any way possible to expose, remind and help make changes so the suicide rates will drop.

This is a necessary read for anyone concerned with the betterment and empowerment of humanity.

View all my reviews

This Can Save Lives And It’s One Simple Thing ALL Of Us CAN Do…

As I worked today one of the most heartbreaking pieces I’ve done in awhile, which says something given the type of sick, hate filled work I work to end. But children are innocent and helpless… Furthermore, I am not stupid; I, as do you, know why this isn’t state, national or international news.
(This first part of the series will be discussing in depth Black children & suicide, and looking into possible solutions. It is one of many in a series of videos and essays to come- this shall be posted on this page in approximately 24-48 hours)

So as I was looking around her video popped up. It is short, and it could save a loved ones life- I beg you to watch it; I understand now that therapy needs to be more Black orientated…but this is a simple, basic technique to use on a loved person, and being human, having a soul and wanting to reach out are all natural, knowing no limitations.

 

Let me repeat that; this extremely easy approach is important for your loved one to have; again, it crosses all lines society has created; from gender, political, sexuality, nationality, financial, skin color or tone, age, disabilities.

Why does it cross this line? Because we are all of the same… I struggle with a severe mental illness(es) due to childhood traumas. Had I had someone when I was younger to listen to me and not judge, I may would have healed. I don’t know, and I am thankful for all I’ve been through.

Why? Without my battles, scars, hospital visits and such, what right would I have to speak out?

I know we all need different things, but one thing I believe most would agree which is so comforting to haven life is a non-judgmental person who does not interject with their personal feelings, opinions, views or something randomly off topic to make the person feel unheard. Mental health can get to a point of it being absolutely, utterly debilitating. 

And as I read more on the project I have in works, at all the suicides… it is so clear to me, more than ever, we have to find a way to not only educate children on how to react if you feel said way but we also need parenting classes for children who struggle. There are many other solutions, I believe and I am hopeful. 

Having someone to listen, without bias, without judgment and not only listen but empathize with the person; that may seem so basic and normal but it isn’t. And it is scary, but it also is life saving…

With the number of suicides all across America high, and those in the Black community as well, most worryingly amongst the ages 5-12… we need to take action fast, create community centers and other means of support… More on that soon, please do watch the following short video though, and if you don’t cry I am surprised 🙂 It’s short, and she discusses why it is important to just have someone there to …simply listen, nothing more nothing less.

Obama Speaks on Being a Real Man-Mental Health & Pride In Self

As I continue to work on my current project regarding racism and mental health, among Black men in particular, this, I believe, is a great piece. I agree with what he had to say as it is true…

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Former President Barack Obama spoke Tuesday about how to “be a man” and the need to combat stereotypes of masculinity that “trap” young men, specifically young men of color.

“All of us have to recognize that being a man is first and foremost being a good human. That means being responsible, working hard, being kind, respectful, compassionate,” Obama said at a conference for his My Brother’s Keeper initiative in Oakland.

“The notion that somehow defining yourself as a man is dependent on, are you able to put somebody else down… able to dominate… that is an old view,” the former president added.

In conversation with NBA star Steph Curry, Obama spoke about the need to create spaces “where young men of color, and young men generally, don’t feel as if to be respected they have to act a certain way.”

“If you’re confident about your strength, you don’t need to show me by putting somebody else down,” Obama said. “Show me by lifting somebody else up.”

“I’ve just been mentored right there,” Curry responded.

At the start of his panel, Obama had introduced himself as “Michelle’s husband” and the Golden State Warriors player as “Ayesha’s husband.”

The men sat on a stage surrounded by two dozen young men of color. In the front rows of the amphitheater near Lake Merritt in Oakland, dozens more young adults, mostly boys and men of color, faced them, having traveled from places like Los Angeles; Yonkers, New York; and Nashville to be there.

The two-day gathering in Oakland was meant to mark five years since Obama started the My Brother’s Keeper initiative. The former president has described the group’s mission as “working to break down barriers that too often leave boys and young men of color at a disadvantage.”

At Tuesday’s event, Obama also spoke about how racism plays a role in perpetuating toxic masculinity.

“Racism historically in this society sends a message that you are ‘less than,’” Obama said. “We feel we have to compensate by exaggerating stereotypical ways men are supposed to act. And that’s a trap.”

He added that much of the “violence and pain” communities suffer comes from men seeking respect, including through gun violence. “And that is a self-defeating model for being a man.”

Obama noted how cultural influences, like music, specifically hip-hop and rap, are often built around “talking about how I have more money than you, I can disrespect you.”

“Ironically, that shows the vulnerability you feel,” Obama said. “If you were very confident about your sexuality, you don’t have to have eight women around you twerking… you seem stressed that you gotta be acting that way.”

“I got one woman who I’m very happy with,” he added, as the audience erupted in applause.

Curry, in turn, spoke about the need for men to be “open about their feelings” and have space where they can do that. He said the locker room with his teammates allows him that.

To read the rest, please click here for the original post.

More Money for *Them*; More Injustice For Mentally Ill; Please Read…

“Last year, the work of grassroots organizations and health providers moved the American Public Health Association to recognize that police violence is a public health issue that undermines our communities’ ability to develop non-law enforcement responses to crisis and harm.-” See Below Post

That quote from the petition sums up what I am about to describe; and if anyone cannot handle it or chooses to look the other way, remember, you are only aiding the cruel, injustices going on…

Please share, please care enough to add your name… This is an ongoing battle and crisis, they now are openly wanting to target the mentally ill; please give a moment to hear what this has meant and could mean to any one suffering from extreme mental illnesses in America.  After my words is the petition and a link to the original site. But before you do that, I ask you please keep in mind….

America’s prison industry is all about money. I won’t go into that here for this is regarding mental health and SAVING people from a horrific new proposal; but it is important to note that if you’re not familiar with how twisted, sick and demented the American prison system is, please come back as I will have resources in the future -my internet isn’t working currently or I’d do so now-, it’s frustrating not being able to do so now, but America’s money making prison industry leads the world with the highest prison population in the world despite only representing only 5% of the worlds population. And it is worth noting, over half of whom are in for drug offenses.

Prison is not the answer; it has been proven time and time again that community based rehabilitation and counseling programs have a success rate of close to every 8.5 in 10 offenders not re-offending.  But that won’t bring in money. And in a capitalistic country that won’t do. So, because there is a very high rate of first time offenders becoming repeat offenders, that money keeps rolling in. During the cold war inmates were experimented on, including those in “mental institutions” -jail for the mentally ill. That’s exactly what it sounds like they are wanting to build again.

Not that they don’t have enough places to torture or kill and still gain profit with the current prisons and jails all across America.

They place people in these jail, prison and now “jail for the mentally ill” with no intention of helping rehabilitate them. If that were the case we would have government funded community based rehabs, as noted. And once more; who is to say the torment will not begin once more; not that it has been anything less than torture, which can be proven by too many cases, from letting a man die of dehydration and hunger as guards mocked the man, to the more recent freezing of New York prisoners.

These prisoners could be heard protesting outside the prison in Brooklyn only 5, 6 days ago. You can listen/watch that video here. And once I am back in range of internet I will provide lengthy proof of all things I have stated here.

Additionally, having police sent out to deal with anyone who has mental illness has proven time and time again to be a fatal failure.

Take a 15 year old Black male in Minnesota who had wanted to be a cop but was shot to death by the police before ever having a chance… Because he was having a mental “episode” and his mother, worrying for his safety, called the police. And as they approached the house saw the teen ager outside with a large knife against his face. Threatening NO ONE but himself… They shot him dead. I’ll get my notes and make a more in depth post and ideally video in his memory.

Or consider the intervention of cops in Miami, FL, where a 6 year old little boy was cutting himself in the principals office with broken glass, so the cops came in and “helped” him by tasering him with the 50,000 volts; enough to kill grown men -and has in deed killed grown men and women. He was not tasered once, or twice, but they held the trigger down so it would go past the limited “3 second” shut off.  He did live, but this is not how you treat mentally ill.

This 6 year old child was tasered for his own safety, said the police. If they can’t help a child without violence or excessive force (and this is NOT the only case nor all the information; again, I will have that up asap) they should not be allowed in the situation; why would we want to put another group of people at risk of being abused or killed?

These are but TWO cases I have worked on out of absolutely NUMEROUS cases with utterly no chance of me getting an accurate number of how many mentally ill persons they have hurt or murdered because of … ? some say lack of training, some say fear… I don’t know what goes on in their sick minds. But what I do know is having the police involved in cases with the mentally ill is asking for brutal trouble.

Once again, when I get the internet back up I will post more videos with more information; I am so angry at the moment I am going to get my files and make a video, and attempt to see if my phones network will upload from here, but I am doubtful. Either way, if you don’t believe me and want more evidence, please check back as I have plenty of information and evidence, I am about to get that out right now.

So once more I ask:

Please sign the petition and share the following. Before I repost, I want to add, I have been a volunteer for over a decade, working to expose and fighting against not only America’s biased and racist prison industry, but working towards a solution for the offending crimes.

Please keep these things in mind if you need extra fuel against this…deceptive terrorism. The mentally ill are already treated horrendously in our prisons…We cannot afford to give them a new means of abuse and harassment.

I have not even touched on the racism aspect of this horrendous proposal, below they give the facts on that sickness which plagues all of our prisons due to a system built on racism. Not to mention other issues; over crowding in prisons due to abusive, asinine, admittedly racist (sentencing committees have in the not so distant past indeed admitted targeting the Black community, more on that as well up coming).

But I digress and leave you with the facts from the original post…  

Post beings

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Click here to go to the petition website.

We strongly urge the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors to vote, on February 12th, to reject the plan to build new jails.

This plan, which would renovate the Mira Loma facility and build a Consolidated Correctional Treatment Facility downtown, claims to address the mental health needs of those who are incarcerated. As health workers, community members, and families impacted by incarceration, we know that jails are harmful to human health. We strongly urge the Board of Supervisors to immediately reject this $4 billion plan to builds more cages, and pursue public health based alternatives that (1) expand the capacity of medical and mental health care systems, (2) divert people from jail, (3) reduce police contact, and (4) coordinate the county’s current studies, investments, and priorities towards producing outcomes that decarcerate the county jail system.

1) Los Angeles County should be expanding the capacity of its medical and mental health care system through mental health emergency responders, supportive housing, hospital beds, and community-based facilities. The crisis of incarceration is intimately related to the crisis of housing and dangerous deficiencies in mental health and medical care systems for those who have physical and mental health disabilities. For the past 40 years, Los Angeles and the country more generally have used the criminal justice system as a one-size fit all solution to these problems. As health care workers, we have witnessed how this “solution” has caused cycles of suffering and negative health outcomes. The Board of Supervisors can draw on the expertise of health care workers and researchers as well as community leaders who are most impacted by criminalization and incarceration and who intimately understand the needs, to craft upstream solutions and integrated systems of long term care that prevent incarceration.

2) Los Angeles County should divert more people from its jails. The high rates of mental health disability, homelessness and substance use among those incarcerated, as well as the county’s high rates of recidivism, all point to the critical importance of systematically evaluating the potential for diversion to reduce the harms of incarceration. The county has joined other major American cities, such as New York and Chicago, in responding to this need. In 2015, the Board of Supervisors created the Office of Diversion and Re-Entry (ODR), which thus far has diverted 2,800 people from the jails. This volume in such a short period of time indicates the very considerable potential for diversion from the jail system. With such options available, and with other cities such as New York showing marked declines in its population through such efforts, it does not make sense to invest resources in building more jail capacity. Instead, we urge the County to establish a strategic plan for a reduction in the jail population through jail diversion and other treatment and housing-centered alternatives to incarceration.

3) Police contact should not be the means by which communities are connected to housing, medical, and mental health care. The LAPD and the LA County Sheriffs have promoted and added mental health clinicians to newly formed emergency response teams and jail systems have connected incarcerated people to supportive housing and treatment programming upon their release. Yet, law enforcement and incarceration is a source of violence against Black, Brown, poor, disabled, women and/or transgender people. Last year, the work of grassroots organizations and health providers moved the American Public Health Association to recognize that police violence is a public health issue that undermines our communities’ ability to develop non-law enforcement responses to crisis and harm. We are acutely aware of the consequences of these forms of violence in our emergency rooms, hospitals, and community clinics. We believe it is paramount to develop non-police based alternatives and connect community members to services without police contact.

4) Los Angeles should coordinate the current studies, investments, and priorities that it has committed to towards producing outcomes that decarcerate the county jail system. Since the Los Angeles County Supervisors approved the jail in May of 2014, they have significantly increased their commitment to address houselessness by $402 million, allocated $49 million to permanent supportive housing, has called for the diversion of pregnant women from jail to community based alternatives, and is studying the need for mental health hospital beds; these beds are vital to moving our loved ones inside of jail facilities into safer, more effective treatment. In addition, the County’s commitment to bail reform should, as in other jurisdictions, aim towards significant reductions of the jail population. The County should immediately coordinate all of these and other commitments into a countywide effort that dramatically reduces the jail population.

Why is this important?

The #JusticeLA campaign, a broad coalition made up of local and national stakeholders and community members and born from the work of family members in Los Angeles who have had loved ones harmed and killed by the Los Angeles jail system has been struggling with the Board of Supervisors on their dissonant plan to invest at least $4 billion dollars into jail expansion in Los Angeles County for almost a decade. The #JusticeLA campaign is partnering with health workers from across the spectrum of service and health advocacy to demand the long overdue end to caging as a response to public health issues.

Jails and all forms of incarceration are bad for human health. Achieving humane, high quality and accessible health care for the roughly 170,000 people who are incarcerated every year in Los Angeles, the largest jail system in the world, is an urgent task, specifically because jails and other forms of incarceration are not health care institutions. On the contrary, jails are fundamentally harmful to human health. Understanding people inside primarily as criminals, not patients, jails isolate people from their families and communities, deprive people of control and agency over their bodies, subject people to unsafe environments and cause long-lasting trauma. Recent scholarship has outlined many of these harms on incarcerated people and their communities, showing, for example, how incarceration worsens mental health disabilities (Schnittker 2015) and shortens lives (Nosrati et al 2017).

The previously approved $4 billion jail plan poses a significant and urgent threat to the health of those most criminalized, including Black and Latinx people across Los Angeles. The county is already home to the largest mental health facility in the country, Twin Towers jail. Eighty percent of the current jail system population is either Black or Latinx and an alarming 70% of the current jail population reports having a serious medical, mental health disability, or substance use condition. Over one thousand people per year die in local jails across the country. Half of all deaths of people incarcerated in local jails are the result of some type of illness including heart disease, liver disease, and cancer. As the largest jails system in the world, the Los Angeles County jail system contributes to all of these trends as reported by incarcerated people, their families, and by health workers themselves who provide services in the jails and as loved ones return home. Expansion of the function, scope, geography, or size of the current jail system will continue to result in both the reproduction of these harmful trends and/or the reliance of law enforcement contact and justice system involvement for what has historically proven to be inadequate and harmful “treatment.”

Negative health outcomes in jails disproportionately affect marginalized communities. For example, roughly one out of every three deaths of Black people in local jails is the result of a heart attack which could be prevented in community-based treatment. While Black people make up less than 9% of the Los Angeles County population, Black people constitute 30% of the County jail population and 43% of those incarcerated with a serious mental health disability. Additionally, 75% of incarcerated women in Los Angeles are women of color. In the seven-year period between 2010 and 2016, Black women were sentenced to 5,481 years of jail time for charges that can be solved using public health strategies that build our communities rather than law enforcement which often undermine them. The construction of a women’s jail will exacerbate these trends and other negative health outcomes as incarcerated women of color will be further isolated from their families and communities.

On Febraury 12th, The County has a historic opportunity to break away from the public health crisis of criminalization and incarceration by stopping this jail construction plan and diverting resources towards community-based alternatives that prioritize the dignity and wellbeing of our families and loved ones throughout Los Angeles.

(update) My New #Video RE: Four Black Females Strip Searched At School…!

Shortly I shall be posting some of my research regarding what this kind of harassment, degradation and abuse does to these innocent and targeted youth. Please do stay tuned.

Truth- A Right to Fight For...

As I said, until you show me how
white children, FEMALES, have
been abused and violated as Black
children, FEMALES in this situation,
in this way or any other way without any action or care, until you can show me an epidemic of white children being abused like this or any other way by the school system you have NO reason to even entertain the selfish thought that this is NOT because of the color of these females skin!

Yes, it is sick to say. Yes, it is sick to realize. BUT IT IS ALSO TRUE AND TRUTH NEEDS TO BE SPOKEN

And justice needs to start happening; which I know this video won’t create but it is a reality that needs to be remembered and maybe ONE DAY WE WILL GET THERE!

I have no words to say …for now… other than what I share below.

And,

Please click…

View original post 33 more words

Procrastination & the Guilty Mindset

This may be a bit personal but I feel it is a tiny piece much needed by more of us than we may think. I struggle with feeling great guilt over not spending time on the remaining projects I am working on anytime I sit down to focus on just the one.

I feel guilt because from every angle I am supposed to be there for someone or please them in some way; and I am realizing I can’t do it all. But I feel I should be able to…

That and a lot more guilt, and fear, even more so, has caused great delay on projects, books and other… But I try to remember that people who truly love me will support me & understand; the same is true for all of us seeking our dreams.

Let us not forget the most vital guilt problem for many, myself included…the guilt of having procrastinated already…

I post this as hope that not only myself but anyone else struggling with guilt procrastination will find the self love and dedication needed to go after their purpose in life…and not feel guilty about it.

Let this apply not only to students but all of us who are artists and creatives of all sort, as well anyone else who struggles with this…

Regarding the study:

The key finding was that students who’d forgiven themselves for their initial bout of procrastination subsequently showed less negative affect in the intermediate period between exams and were less likely to procrastinate before the second round of exams. Crucially, self-forgiveness wasn’t related to performance in the first set of exams but it did predict better performance in the second set.

‘Forgiveness allows the individual to move past maladaptive behaviour and focus on the upcoming examination without the burden of past acts to hinder studying,’ the researchers said. ‘By realising that procrastination was a transgression against the self and letting go of negative affect associated with the transgression via self-forgiveness, the student is able to constructively approach studying for the next exam.’

You can find the study in completion by clicking here.

Racism in Medicine- A Doctor & His Story

First, I need to apologize for my delay in posting. I am still conducting research and gather works for my larger release on the impact of modern day racism (and in history) and how it is impacting innocent Black children. I have decided, however, because this is a topic that is vital, a topic that rages onward sadly outside of childhood and is a huge health problem in the Black community for men and women of all ages.

Last year this tragic, silent killer was reported by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) showing the biggest increase for suicide risk is between the ages of 5 – 11 years of age in Black children… That takes my breath away. It also fuels me for my other posts that will soon come.

The CDC also released information late last year showing an increase in suicide among the above noted ages in this localized area, rising from 1.78 to 3.47 per every 1 million; at the same time, studies revealed suicide among white kids declined from 1.96 to 1.31 per every 1 million The 4 year study conducted by the CDC there was tragic loss of life; leaving 41 Black males and 73 white males (both groups children) dead to suicide.

There are two books I am currently reading and will soon be posting reviews about. One of them you can read for free if you have Kindle Unlimited. After reading, I will post my review and link to the book so others may learn and share.

Facts on Black suicide

1. 1. The Centers for Disease Control reported that between 1999 and 2004, young African-American males had the highest rate of suicide.  This latter finding is consistent with research that males are more likely to complete suicides whereas females are more likely to attempt suicide.
   2. The American Association of Suicidology reports of the 1,992 completed suicides among African-Americans that 371 of those deaths were by females.
   3. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the following statistics for 2010:
   4. Suicide was the 16th leading cause of death for Blacks of all ages and the 3rd leading cause of death for young Black males ages 15–24.
   5. Althoughl Black suicide rates are lower than the overall U.S. rates, suicide affects Black youth at a much higher rate than Black adults. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among Blacks ages 15-24.
   6. Since the Black community in the United States is disproportionately young, the number of deaths among youth may have a particularly strong impact on the Black community.5. Black Americans die by suicide a full decade earlier than White Americans. The average age of Black suicide decedents is 32, and that of White decedents is 44.
   7. Caribbean Blacks had a higher rate of suicide attempts than African American Blacks.  On the other hand, another study found that among adolescent males, African American Blacks were approximately five times more likely than Caribbean Blacks to attempt suicide.
   8. Religion: Orthodox religious beliefs and personal devotion have been identified as protective against suicide among Blacks. Participation in organized religious practices, such as church attendance, is linked to lower suicide risk in African Americans. Among Blacks with psychiatric disorders, religiosity has been found to delay age of onset of ideation as well as decrease the number of psychiatric disorders.
   9. Social and emotional support: Family support, peer support, and community connectedness have been shown to help protect Black adolescents from suicidal behavior. Similarly, positive interactions and social and family support have been shown to significantly reduce risk for suicide attempts among Black adults. Although emotional support from family decreased the risk of suicide attempts for both Caribbean Blacks and African Americans, the impact was stronger for Caribbean Blacks than for African Americans.

Those are but a few facts on suicide within the Black community, but the information is not only available, I believe it is a necessary need for all. I must end this here, but I urge you all to check out the following book by Doctor Damon Tweedy, listen to the short interviews and then go buy the book yourself!  🙂 It looks like a tragedy when people are just trying to escape the unspeakable pain. While stigma towards mental illness(es) may be bad enough regardless of race or what-have-you, it seems they want to break us all down sometimes. And we cannot let that happen. Mental health care is just as save63

With all the stigma surrounding mental health, especially in the communities that struggle to, or refuse to, acknowledge the severity and risk so many men carry daily … it is time for, yet again, action…

There is a ton of information I had to post but I must leave now. I urge you to watch these videos, check out the book and I shall post the free one to as soon as I am able 🙂

Until Next. zoom in and check out the other book I am about to go start reading right now.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Why Is No One Speaking About Racism & Suicide?

” Scientific evidence is now overwhelming that the early years of life are foundational to health and wellbeing, as well as to social, educational and economic success, throughout life. “

This is going to be a series of posts as doing it all in one may be overwhelming… I have been studying neuroscience and the developmental stages of the brain for 10+ years. Currently I am working on a book regarding the development of the brain and the different stages under different circumstances… Racism is one of the worst and most obvious problems facing non-whites, and Black children are suffering for it more than anyone in the media or even activism speak about. Be it out of ignorance or lack of a soul, the problem remains. So I hope to shine a bit of light on it and maybe, hopefully, do some good…

I share this because the developmental stages are crucial,  and the fact very few people in general, let alone in public policy, ever stop and think about what racism is doing to Black children… The first topic I am working on is sadly morbid but also sadly highly ignored by most of America.

From having to worry for their own safety to that of their caregivers and loved ones, the constant stress  -among other things- obviously impacts mental health…but what exactly is it doing? And what can be done to stop it?

Besides having little ones in my life who are “Black”, I also have worked with numerous at risk children, most of whom were also Black. Recently, since some of the police killings have finally made the mainstream news, I was working with one 10 year old little boy whom, after Tamir Rice’s death, refused to leave his home for any reason. He was certain he would be next…

Ten years old and that is what he is thinking about.

I know the topic of mental health in general is a taboo topic… But it is just as real as any physical ailment -if not worse- and if we could manage to get over egos and look at these problems perhaps we wouldn’t have so many people self loathing and at the saddest extreme, dying.

Strictly speaking from a mental health point of view, an alarming number of Black children between the ages of 5 to 12. *It is important to note here that while suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among all children between the ages of 10 and 44 it is not the time people are most at risk. According to research and statistics adults in the age group of 45-65+ have the highest numbers when it comes to suicide.

Among others, JAMA Pediatrics released a study further discussing the rise in suicide among Black children, in part stating: