Nineteen Fifty-Six Vol.4 Issue 2

Black people are also largely underrepresented in the
mental health field.
The Association of Black Psychologists reports that
Black people represent 4% of psychologists and 2% of
psychiatrists in America.
This dichotomy has grave implications for Black patients.
“People of color are often misread, misunderstood, and
misdiagnosed as a result of a lack of awareness,” she said.
“Certain aspects of Black culture, such as one’s traditions,
customs, values, and way of living, should be taken into
account in the counseling relationship.”
Anthony Bellman, a junior majoring in marketing, found
it difficult to start therapy because he was worried he
wouldn’t find someone who could fully trust to understand
him.
households are managed by single mothers.
Generations of denying and ignoring mental health issues
have created conditions that make it hard for Black people
to talk to their families about these topics, especially with
their parents.
“Back then, if you had depression, you just had to suck it up.
You had no other choice,” Bellman said. “That’s what our
parents want us to do, but it’s deeper than that.”
Hope is creating these spaces with True Colors, a UA
Counseling Center support group for Black students to help
navigate their way through college life and connect with
other students with similar experiences. The meetings are
held at Zoom every first Monday of the month at 4 p.m. Visit
the Counseling Center website for more information.
“I’m talking to a random stranger,” he said. “You want me
to tell you all this deep, emotional stuff that I don’t even
tell my mom.”
Therapy is seen as a luxury. Mental healthcare is
unaffordable and, for many Americans, takes away vital
time and money from their households.
Mental Health America reports that nearly 1 in 5 Black
Americans live in poverty, and around 30% of Black
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