PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Black mental health professionals, community leaders and members of the African diaspora came together at the Liacouras Center on Saturday for a discussion of mental health in the Black community.
The event was hosted by the 988 Diaspora Campaign in partnership with state Sen. Sharif Street.
In cases of a mental health emergency, people are urged to dial 988. Eric Nzeribe, publisher of FunTimes Magazine, which is a news and information site focused on the African diaspora, says it’s a much better resource than 911, especially for Black people.
“We are in a very distressed environment, so 988 is a very important resource because all of us have had experience with the police before,” he said. Instead of speaking to police, you speak to a mental health professional.
But 988 Diaspora Campaign Coordinator Marilyn Kai Jewett says even when Black people do seek help, they still run into difficulties. “People of African descent need Black therapists because racism permeates everything, including the health care system,” she said.
“For all the people of the African diaspora, we have to heal ourselves in order to take our rightful place in the world.”
Jewett says calling 988 is great for emergencies, but she wanted to see a good long-term resource to help pair Black people with what she calls culturally competent mental health providers.
“We want to let people know you don’t have to suffer alone,” she said. “There are people here who look like you who’ve been through the same things that can help you.”
The 988 Diaspora Campaign has compiled more than two dozen Black-focused mental health resources in the Philly area, available at the FunTimes magazine website.