HEALTH & WELLNESS
“WE EACH HAVE KNOWN BROTHERS WHO STRUGGLE WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE, PSYCHOSIS, AND EVEN SUICIDALITY.”
“To make mental wellness a mainstream priority— that is what this campaign is all about,” said Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., (Beta Upsilon 1985) Executive Director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, as he intro- duced the Foundation’s new public awareness initiative, “Mental Health Care Works.” “This is the first positive mental wellness campaign we believe has ever been launched,” Andrews said. “The reason I say this is because we are not going to be talking about stigma as all the other great anti-stigma campaigns of the past have done. They moved the dial, but they didn’t set the temperature. This campaign is designed to reset the temperature entirely so that we will prioritize mental health in the same way we have pri- oritized physical health.” Mental Health Care Works is focused on encouraging those with concerns about their mental health or that of a friend or loved one to take the first step toward getting help. The cam- paign will launch in select markets and then expand nationwide.
Are we okay physically? As a community, we are not. We suffer from higher rates of hypertension, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and cardiovas- cular disease. Again, our fraternity is a microcosm of our broader commu- nity. We have all known brothers who have suffered from chronic illness and, unfortunately, experi- enced premature death. The health screenings that have been offered at the various Conclaves, Province Councils, and local chapter events via the “Healthy Kappas, Healthy Communities” initiative revealed an alarming number of brothers with uncontrolled hypertension, obesity, and elevated blood sugar. Studies reveal that an alarming number of individuals in the Black community utilize the emergency department and urgent care centers
as their primary source of primary care. According to the National Institutes of Health, African Americans seek primary care through a private physician’s office at only two-thirds the rate of White Americans. Subjective observations of brothers around the country suggest similar statistics in Kappa. As a Primary Care doctor, it is my job to evaluate the problem, arrive at a diagnosis, and recommend a course of action to my patients. The mental and physical health of Kappa requires atten- tion. Our brothers need help. Our brothers need help with understanding what they are feeling and why. They need reassur- ance that there is nothing taboo about admitting they are struggling or need help. Our brothers need license to answer the question “Are you okay?” Truthfully,
even when they are not okay. Our brothers must be armed with the tools to help themselves and each other. Our brothers need help finding resources and accessing treatment. Our brothers must be armed with information about maintaining their health and nutrition. Our brothers need access to a support structure that can help encourage them, moti- vate them, and promote accountability. This is the goal of the “Are You Okay?” initiative. ♦ Brother Dr. Hernando Carter (Birmingham (AL) Alumni Chapter 2002) practices Internal Medicine at the University of Ala- bama Birmingham School of Medicine.
For more information and resources about mental health, please visit www.nami.org. If you or someone you know are having struggles with your mental health, please dial 988. You will be able to speak with a therapist free of charge.
FALL 2023 ♦ THE JOURNAL 13
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