Lessons from Tina Turner + Black Women & Mental Health
I recently got to spend some time in New York City, one of my favorite places to visit. While there, I enjoyed two amazing experiences that I can’t wait to tell you about.
First, I went to The Tina Turner Broadway Show. Friends, let me tell you.
It. Was. Absolutely. Wonderful.
Me on the streets of NYC!
It had me crying, smiling, and laughing the entire time. The show immersed me in her music as it showed how many obstacles Tina Turner overcame in her lifetime. Even after facing divorce, even after age 40, despite obstacles in her marriage and family, she strived for success, and she was able to excel with people who supported her. One of the biggest takeaways from the show was how Tina found a spiritual grounding, which all of us need to strive for, no matter what our religious background.
If you ever have the opportunity to come to NYC to see the show, I encourage you to do it, or watch the documentary on Tina’s life that’s available now too. It was a wonderful experience that I am going to remember for a long, long time!
Another highlight from this trip happened when I was invited to speak on a Black Women & Mental Health Panel discussion hosted by Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, Chief Mental Wealth Officer for Charlamagne tha God’s Mental Wealth Alliance. For a half-hour, we shared our hearts with the audience about why black women need to be vigilant about not only our mental health, but the mental health of those we love too.
Here’s a quick recap of a few of the topics we talked about:
As black women, we feel like the world is on our shoulders and we need to wear a superwoman cape. But women need to know they can take that cape off and walk in power each and every day, regardless of what other people think or feel.
How do you know when it’s time to see a mental health therapist? Here’s a tip. If you’re questioning whether you should see a therapist, you most likely need to see one.
Transparency is needed in the black community. We can say a lot of things about physical health issues, like diabetes or losing weight, and people don’t blink an eye. But mental illness and health are always talked about in hushed tones. The moderator recognized me for being open and transparent in sharing my story about dealing with my mother’s severe mental illness because that’s not often seen in the black community. We need to be real about mental health with each other and with our doctors.
How are you doing? If you’re like most women, you say “fine, blessed” etc. But women need to get to a place where we can be self-assessors and understand what others are going through on a 0-10 rating of health, ability to live life’s purpose, going to work, and so on. We need to be checking in with other women. If you’re like a 7 or 8, on the scale, that’s great. If it’s like a 5 or below, then we need to ask each other, “what can I do to help you out right now?”
One of my co-panelists, Dr. Charmain Jackman, founded an important resource called InnoPsych, which helps people of color find therapists of color. You can find out more on her website at www.innopsych.com.
Last, the moderator led the audience in a brief meditation. Because taking a deep breath in and slowly exhaling out while saying a positive word (think “peace” or “love” or whatever you need at that moment), you can change your mindset in as little as 30 seconds.
Being on the panel with my peers who are also advocates for strong mental health in the Black community was a wonderful and uplifting experience. I highly recommend watching the entire panel discussion here. It will only take 30 minutes and it’s well worth your time and health!