The Importance of Mental Health in the African American Community

Welcome to ForevaBlack, my name is Niya Graham, and I am 22 years old. I have an
Associate of Arts degree, and I am currently pursuing my Bachelor's degree at Coastal
Carolina University, in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in being a mental health
advocate with a minor in communication. I wanted to start this blog in 2021, life began to
become a lot, so I put it on hold, but I decided to rebrand this year in 2024. I am a person
who has dealt with depression, anxiety, unwanted thoughts, rejection, self-esteem issues,
etc., the purpose of this page is to connect with my African American community who may
be experiencing these things now, or who have experienced these things and did not do the
process or journey to heal. I want to let you all know I see you; I hear you and I am here for
you. I can relate to many things because I have been through it, I know how it feels to be
rejected and not feel seen, heard, or loved. On this blog, I plan to be vulnerable and share
some things I have felt and experienced to connect with you all on a personal level. In the
future, I plan to be a children’s therapist, in the African American Community mental
health is not expressed enough; most people do not feel safe enough to tell someone that
they are hurting and need help. I want to help build up our children in many ways, our
children are our future. WE ARE OUR FUTURE, we are beautiful, blessed young men and
women and we should be the most healed versions of ourselves to get to every level we are
supposed to.

My vision for this page will not only come from only regular tips and advice, but I will also
do things from a Christian perspective. My religion and beliefs make me who I am and have
made me into the young lady I am today. Christianity, Jesus Christ has brought me a long
way... in ways most people would not understand, and I am hoping it will reach my
audience and they experience the same change I have. My hope is for this page to expand
on a daily, to reach teens, young adults, and older adults; for men and women. This page is
not just for women, this is for the entire community. I am not doing this page for me; I am
doing this for YOU! I care about everyone, you all matter and are worthy of love and being
helped.

You may ask, “why is mental health important?” or “what will change if I improve and start
focusing on my mental health?” I will give you some reasons why it is important and what
will begin to change in you... first, it is important because our brain and mind being healthy
is especially important. Have you ever been depressed or dealing with a high amount of
anxiety and did not want to get out bed? Or started to deal with suicidal thoughts? Or
thoughts that we just should not even be thinking of? If you take care of your mental health
by journaling, going to therapy, putting on a playlist that will bring peace to your spirit and
mind you will see those things clear up. Having a foggy mental state will cause a messy
environment, a messy brain where you cannot even think about the things that are
important such as you, your education, your career, your children, etc. Being so caught up
in your anxiety and depression will have you thinking about negative things all day instead
of the positives, how will you ever heal with your brain clouded with chaos? Taking care of
your mental state helps improve our bodies, our body and mind are connected in more
than one way. It will help our body be able to rest more, not being so tense and stressed,
and feel lighter in general.

As I have stated before, I am here for all of you. I am going to try to make a way you all can
anonymously contact me if you do not want me to know who you are if you ever need to
talk. Use your resources too, go to therapy and talk to someone professionally or if you do
not feel comfortable with that now, talk to the people who care about you. I will always be
an ear to listen no matter what, and I pray this page helps build you up and push you to be
better physically, mentally, and spiritually. Cheers to the start of something great, and
something we can all help elevate each other!