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Racism and Mental Health
Introduction
The American Psychiatric Association has not recognized extreme racism as a mental health problem. Even though the concern was raised three decades ago, the association has not fully recognized racism as one of the mental health-related problems. However, studies have shown that continued racism and extrajudicial killings contribute to mental disorders. The association refused to link mental health problems with racism because many Americans are racists, and racism in the country is seen as normative. The continued idea of terming racism as normative and not pathologic is dangerous for a country. However, it is vital to note that racism or people who seek to eliminate others may lead to conflicts or delusional disorders. It is evident that racism is somehow linked to mental illness. In effect, the paper will seek to elaborate on the link between racism and mental health problems. Moreover, the paper will address substantial solutions that can be applied to counter the problem and enlighten people on how to deal with cases of racism.
Discussion
When it comes to racism, black communities have suffered the most. Racism is when one group of people is denied access to education, healthcare, housing, and equitable share of resources because of their skin color. Racism has a detrimental impact on people. The majority of communities subjected to racism have chosen to suffer in silence because nobody seems to care or wants to liberate them from the yokes of oppression. Even though rules have been initiated to eradicate racism in the society, the same rules have not been adequately upheld to bring sanity in the country. Surveys show that the number of people who have chosen to suffer in silence keeps on increasing annually (Pieterse 13). Besides, the surveys show that these people have mental health problems. The anxiety to overcome racism has been a major challenge, and it is the reason most of them have mental health issues.
Experiences of racism have significant negative effects on marginalized communities, both physical and mental. Even though chronic conditions of stress have negative effects on people, exposure to racism and discrimination can lead to mental problems. The affected groups barely understand their daily stressors, and the effects of stress affect them psychologically. Therefore, the intention should be to enlighten them on how daily stress as a result of racism and discrimination can affect them psychologically.
First, the anxiety and sadness that comes with racism could prompt the affected groups to react. In most cases, their reaction is meted with enormous intimidation forcing them to live in fears. The affected communities and especially the blacks living in Asia have not been given enough chance to air their grievances, an aspect that has forced them to suffer in silence. Furthermore, these communities are not given equal share as compared to the natives, which makes it hard for them to access quality healthcare services. Failure to access quality medical services has hindered them from knowing their health conditions. However, it is imperative to understand that extreme racism can lead to mental problems like schizophrenia and bipolar disorders (Mouzon and Jamila 41). Any person suffering from delusions most likely has social dysfunction that impairs the ability to appropriately.
Ethnic communities living in different parts of the world live in fear because they are treated as scapegoats for any problem arising in society. Therefore, their strong racist feelings, which are tied on the system of impervious, has caused a serious mental problem in their lives. Moreover, it is essential to note that these people lack enough knowledge and education to understand their health conditions. Educating people about their health condition is vital for their survival because once they understand it, they become less paranoid and less prejudiced. It is high time to declare extreme racism as a mental health problem to the marginalized communities. People afflicted on racism pose a significant threat to themselves and others. The clinicians, on the other hand, need to understand the guidelines to mental related issues among the victims of racism so that they can provide appropriate treatment.
When people experience emotional reactions in the face of racism, they deliberately become anxious about how to get over the painful experiences. Racism is rampant in the United States, and there is a link between racism and mental health issues. Racism can take many forms, including racial macro-aggressions. This type of racism is described as overt racism experiences that involve one being called ethnic slur or being physically assaulted because of skin color. This goes to the extent of denying people their reserved wages due to race. Examples of micro-aggressions include people being subjected to criminal activities due to race (Kwate and Melody 714). Moreover, racism can be experienced on structural institutions or an individual level. In this case, voters are denied the right to vote because of their race. This kind of treatment can have a serious impact on people. The idea of being denied the right to participate in public duties will automatically affect people psychologically. Therefore, based on these assertions, it is safe to say that racism and mental health problems are intertwined. People cannot think of racism without having a thought on mental health issues.
Solution
Understanding the link between racism and mental health problems will prove vital in finding a solution to the menace. The provision of stern measures and organizations to protect the marginalized communities is a significant step in combating the problem. The minority communities should be given chances to air their grievances like any other person in society. Further, rules should be enacted to protect them from brutal employers who take advantage of their situations. On the same note, clinicians should find ways of examined people exposed to racism to find out their health conditions. Most of the individuals subjected to racism choose to suffer in silence, which, in return, has affected them psychologically. More importantly, marginalized communities should be allowed to participate in public duties as a way of exercising their rights.
Conclusion
Major communities, and especially the blacks in the Asian countries, have suffered the most from racism. Most of them have shown symptoms of mental illness due to discrimination and racism. The issue of racism has been tolerated long enough, and it is the time to combat it. People are suffering from racism, with issues ranging from physical assaults to low wage payments. Therefore, it is imperative to come up with organizations and strict rules to protect marginalized communities. The rules should involve jail sentences for anyone found guilty of racism. Moreover, employers mistreating their employees because of their race should be punished severely. All people should be treated equally and should be given a chance to access public resources irrespective of their skin color.
Works Cited
Kwate, Naa Oyo A., and Melody S. Goodman. “Cross-sectional and longitudinal effects of racism on mental health among residents of Black neighborhoods in New York City.” American journal of public health 105.4 (2015): 711-718.
Mouzon, Dawne M., and Jamila S. McLean. “Internalized racism and mental health among African-Americans, US-born Caribbean Blacks, and foreign-born Caribbean Blacks.” Ethnicity & Health 22.1 (2017): 36-48.
Pieterse, Alex L., et al. “Perceived racism and mental health among Black American adults: A meta-analytic review.” Journal of Counseling Psychology 59.1 (2012): 1.