Take charge of your health today. Be informed. Be involved. …Depression

VM: It’s so important for you to say that, Ms. Bush. Research has shown that Black adults are more likely to report psychological distress than White adults. This makes sense, considering the racial adversity that we deal with every day, that we have dealt with in the past and that we fear we will deal with in the future. It can be very stressful to be a person of color in the United States. We need to confront that stress and what it does to our spirit. To deny it or to call it a weakness takes the focus away from those issues and puts it on the individual person.
EB: Yes, Vianca, and we need to change that thought. No one should blame themselves for depression.
VM: But what about folks who blame depression on their relationship with God? What advice would you give to people who say that feeling depressed means that they must work on getting closer to God?
EB: I’d say that having a relationship with God is a beautiful and rewarding thing. If people want to have a closer relationship with God, they should. This relationship is a big part of the healing for many people. But getting help from a mental health professional is also absolutely essential.
VM: Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ms. Bush. I can’t wait to talk about next month’s topic, which is preventive health and wellness. If anyone has questions or needs resources for depression, e-mail partners@hs.pitt.edu.
 
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