BIPOC Mental Health Month: Hope for a Better Tomorrow
By: Charmel Catrell
First and foremost, I want to say thank you to the entire team at This Is My Brave for nominating and thinking of me to speak for BIPOC awareness month. It is an honor I do not take lightly. Mental Health is and always will be a topic that I’m not only passionate about but one I will continue to bring awareness to. It has been a while since speaking in this space as I needed to take some much-needed time to ensure I was attending to my own Mental Health and well-being by putting myself first in many ways, which is essential.
While we have come so far as a community, I believe we still have quite a way to go. Unfortunately, I have witnessed first-hand the stigma that still surrounds it and the effects of the pain and agony because of it. The experiences I’ve endured, yet overcome, are why many choose to suffer in silence. It is never easy to move past ourselves to lay hold of a version of ourselves we have always envisioned. A version that GOD always knew and intended for each one of us to be. Healthy, happy, and whole. Personally, a version that while in transit has come with much grief, sorrow, plenty of mistakes, followed by lessons learned along the way. Ultimately providing opportunities to grow, continue to evolve, while releasing the shackles of perfectionism that over the years once weighed me down whether self-imposed or expected from outside sources. A version that has at times required taking a beat, stepping back, and choosing to exercise extreme selfishness in some instances for the preservation of self.
I’m still amazed at the amount of people I encounter in our community who believe they themselves are either exempt from Mental Health struggles, therefore avoid the conversation and topic like it’s the plague, think it is only for weak minded individuals, or know Mental Health exist, but simply have regulated it to this neat little box that in turn will be an indicator to them as to when to pay attention. I have been guilty as well in the past of thinking the same. Thinking that visually it will present itself a certain way, talk a certain way, walk a certain way, and once it has checked off all those things on my list, is when I would know how to not only identify it in others but in myself. If it presented itself in any other box or package, for example, a person who doesn’t check off anything on my list, instead of seeking to understand, gain insight and clarity from a different perspective, I would begin to judge. Silently, sometimes vocally, projecting my opinions onto them, making assumptions regarding their behavior, automatically attributing it to their character, all while not truly knowing their behind the scenes. Heavens forbid if that person was somewhat pleasing to the eye, I promptly stamped them with the label “Attention Seeking.” A trait I have vastly moved on from throughout the years.
In 2020, Covid-19 hit the scenes and GOD truly took a verse from Beyonce to get our attention when he said, “I Stop the World, World Stop!” The entire world was not only on lockdown, but each of us was somewhere finding ways to best deal with our Mental Health, which ultimately showed it does not discriminate, we all have it, and we all must find ways to deal with it.
Often, I have asked myself as well as GOD “Why Me?” “Why Choose Me?” I think it was for many reasons. Granted, He knew I was a work in progress, but I truly believe the sole reason being because I’m an Artist. Yes, I’m an actress and I sit wholeheartedly in it, however, I’m so much more. I have many different talents and gifts as He gives to us all. Talents and gifts that if we’re lucky, one day may change the world. As Artists we not only seek to push the boundaries of our creativity as far as possible but use it to express ourselves to the highest degree possible, whether it be through our talents or external expressions.
I love fashion, make up, stilettos, sneakers, and utilizing hair extensions, pieces, and wigs at times in my own self expression. At any given moment, I can show up in a multitude of ways visually. Therefore, it is very difficult to place me in a box; much like Mental Health. It can also show up in a multitude of ways, (i.e., various people, with various diagnosis, conditions, behaviors, etc.) I’ve found it best to be open to others’ experiences without dismissing or invalidating their feelings, yet recognize my own needs to tap out and offer words of encouragement, prayer, and/or a resource whenever possible.
As I move about in this world, I try my best to extend compassion and grace to others, as you never know what the biggest smiles are masking, or the person you deem to be at the top of their game and have it all together from the outside looking in, the silent hell they may be enduring. The same grace and compassion I show to others, ensuring I show myself. Days, moments, or hours, when things are spiraling out of control or situations and circumstances are unfolding in a less than stellar manner, these are the days my faith takes the lead and I exercise compassion and grace the most. Life truly does have a way at times of bringing even the strongest man or woman to their knees, knocking the very wind out of your sail.
In a time when so many are fighting depression, anxiety, and are on healing journeys that in some ways encompass the same elements, I truly believe it is the grace and compassion we show one another today that may very well save a life tomorrow.
We are all looking for places and spaces where we feel our voices and minds can be lauded, in other words, places where we feel our voices will not only be heard but respected — places where we feel fully seen, loved, cherished, appreciated, accepted, and most importantly where we can show up as our true authentic selves, flaws and all. In my opinion, this is the true definition of community.
A part of my community has been found in therapy. Once moving past the initial hesitation of “I’m not telling my business to a stranger,” or the feeling as though I was turning my back on my faith or religion by seeking help, it has been one of the best decisions I have made. I’ve quickly found myself not only looking forward to that one day a week, but eventually leading my own sessions, walls completely down, unable to contain the week’s prior stress, struggles, or drama. The ability to have a judgement free space to express myself as well as work through the many challenges we face in life as human beings but the additional struggles we face in the BIPOC community has truly been liberating. The professional guidance and weekly tools given to utilize daily has been life changing.
I can attest to the benefit of having someone who looks like me at the helm of my sessions, the role it has played in making them much more comfortable, especially knowing that the person directly across from me in most cases can relate as it pertains to being a person of color.
The willingness to show up no matter what the day may bring, no matter the situation, circumstance, obstacle, or moment, praying while seeing each through, reaching out for support, surrounding myself with trusted loved ones, and resolving to not act when completely overwhelmed has been crucial. It is this fight by the grace of GOD that has kept me and continues to do so each day. The fight in the hopes of seeing a better tomorrow.
Over the years I have utilized many different resources. I have had great therapists as well as therapists I felt weren’t up to par for the season I was in at the time. However, I kept searching until I found “Mrs. Right.” Again, I feel most comfortable as a woman of color speaking to another woman of color. The fight is never-ending with it bringing something new each day, but GOD is a healer, a way maker, and he can and will lead you to the right people, help, and support in time of need.
I pray you continue to fight but most importantly live to see another day!
Godspeed,
Charmel Catrell
Below are several highly reputable resources I recommend in the search for Mental Health support:
Charmel Catrell
Guest Blog
Charmel Catrell is a screenwriter, actress, poet, and author who resides in Los Angeles, CA. A powerhouse of a performer, Charmel can be seen in various television shows alongside some of Hollywood’s most elite Actors. Writing is something that came naturally to her, and she first began her journey by writing poetry as a form of release. In 2019, she started “Labor of Love Productions” now titled “Vision Entertainment” whose mission is to produce real and compelling stories about people of color, the struggles they endure yet gracefully overcome. She is an active supporter of WE RISE, an Artist based community supporting mental well-being and NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness).
Charmel originally told her story on the Brave stage as part of the 2021 virtual show This Is My Brave – Stories from the Black Community, vol. 2.
Resources
If you or someone you know needs help, reach out 24/7 to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 988 or using chat services at suicidepreventionlifeline.org to connect to a trained crisis counselor.
You can also get crisis text support via the Crisis Text Line by texting STORY to 741741.
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