Mental Wellness for All

We all deal with stress. In fact, a great portion of most people’s lives is spent trying to manage and mitigate its harmful effects. Exercise, therapy, mindfulness, support groups, and medication are just a few of the strategies we employ on a regular basis to keep ourselves mentally and physically well.

For people of marginalized backgrounds, however, not only are life’s various stressors often experienced more acutely, but there are a number of barriers that prevent them from accessing the resources necessary to cope.

Studies show that Black Americans living below the poverty line are twice as likely to report serious psychological stress than other groups. And due to barriers in access, the impact of that stress is also disproportionately high.

Black adults are 20% more likely to experience serious mental health problems such as major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. But the problem often begins well before adulthood.

Studies reveal that Black and Brown children are 14% less likely to receive treatment for their depression than white children. One reason for this is that behavioral challenges are much more likely to be addressed criminally rather than as mental health disorders.

Officials estimate that between 50% and 75% of youth in the juvenile justice system meet the criteria for mental health disorders. In communities of color, childhood depression has also been linked to increased welfare dependence and unemployment.

There are a number of complex, structural causes for the disproportional impact that mental health challenges have on marginalized communities, and it’s our responsibility as a society to name these issues and to advocate for change. At Emmaus House, we believe it’s also important to provide children and families with fun, wholesome, and culturally appropriate resources to manage their stress and emotions.

A New Partnership

For all of these reasons and more, we’re excited to partner with Mimi’s Yoga Kids to provide yoga classes and healing circles to our community. Ms. Camelia “Mimi” Felton has long worked to bring yoga therapy to underserved people through her B.U.M.P Project (Black Unified Mothers Pre & Postnatal) and now through her partnership with Emmaus House. To learn more about Mimi’s Yoga Kids, please visit the link below.

The issues facing marginalized people’s mental health are complex and not easy to solve. But by investing in resources for youth and families, we’re building change from the ground up and creating generational impact.