Jesse Jackson Jr. and Depression Among Black Men

It has recently been confirmed that United States Congressman, Jesse Jackson Jr., is being treated for depression. For approximately seven weeks, Jackson Jr. had been absent from his congressional duties but the public was never made fully aware of why. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma inside the Black community regarding mental illness.

Bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses have very negative connotations; especially when associated with men of color. Men, regardless of ethnicity, who acknowledge any mental health struggles usually have their masculinity questioned. This usually prevents us from seeking diagnosis or treatment.

Seeking Answers Other Than Treatment

Men generally ignore physical or mental health problems. This is especially true of men who are members of minority communities. We usually distrust the medical community and have accepted the stereotype that men should be tough. Visiting a doctor or hospital is only seen as a last resort once our symptoms become unbearable or truly life-threatening.

My father ignored his own diabetes for years until he was hospitalized. My deceased younger brother never admitted to his own bipolar disorder. It took me several years to finally accept my own bipolar disorder diagnosis.

Within our society, mental illness and mental health problems are seen as a sign of weakness. Soldiers returning home and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder tend to not seek treatment because of mental health stigma. Sadly, it is seen as unmanly to acknowledge any mental health difficulties. Men are are not supposed to be sad, vulnerable or emotional.

These cultural norms cause many men to suffer in silence and to not seek treatment. Jesse Jackson Jr. is an example of this reality. He decided to hide from the public his treatment for depression. Any person who has a mental illness and seeks treatment is very brave and shouldn't have to worry about their career or public image being put in jeopardy because they chose to get help.

Mental Health: We Need More Black Male Role Models

I think the biggest obstacle for men, especially Black men, in seeking treatment for a mental illness like depression is talking about their feelings of sadness, hurt and pain with a therapist. When I was first diagnosed, I had difficulty speaking to my therapist because

1. I was never taught that it was okay to be open about my emotions.
2. Many of the professionals I encountered in the mental health-care field were women. I incorrectly believed they wouldn't be able to help me because of gender differences.

I think more men of color need to be open publicly about their mental illness and mental health struggles and how seeking treatment has allowed them to live successfully in recovery. I believe this would greatly help combat stigma. It took me five years after my first hospitalization to finally feel happy and optimistic again. I wished there was someone who looked like me who had let me know that there was hope. Maybe me and Jesse Jackson Jr. can start a trend.