THE POWER OF THE BLACK WOMAN’S SELF LOVE JOURNEY

The catalyst for the project is that the declining mental health of Black women and girls and the rising suicide rates of black girls are being regarded as a “Crisis hiding in Plain Sight". This reality breaks my heart. My goal is to create more spaces for these important conversations to happen so that as a community, we no longer willfully ignore the problem in front of us but confront it head-on, so we can heal and thrive. As a black woman in America who deals with anxiety and depression and has felt alone when I did not need to, I want to do my part in spreading awareness and shedding light on resources that could help someone going through the same difficulties as me. Through my research of articles, videos, and personal accounts about mental health for this project, I have not only learned the gravity and prominence of this crisis, but I have also learned about the growing support for protecting the mental health of Black women and girls and how many are doing their part in fighting the injustices that plague us. I, too, want to help fight the stigma around Black women and girls taking care of their mental health and join in fighting the feelings of guilt, shame, selfishness, and weakness that are often attached to this topic. Furthermore, I have made a promise to continue and nourish my own self-love and mental health care journey by utilizing any resources that are available to me.