By Paula Penebaker People have been facing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including loneliness, isolation, missed milestones and increased anxiety. In addition, there are disparities in health care, such as access to health insurance and socio-economic pressures, that put Black people at even greater risk for trauma, grief and other mental health issues. The We […]
Black Moms Speak on COVID-19 Increasing Anxiety and Isolation
By Ashley Smith The challenges of motherhood have only grown since the outbreak of COVID-19. Monique Garvin, a Black mom who lives in Columbia, South Carolina, said navigating pregnancy during the pandemic was a feat. She constantly felt lonely and worried. “It was really hard for me being isolated from family,” Garvin said. “I feel […]
EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED, THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS PAGE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE MADISON TIMES
The Slap Seen Around The World Is A Teachable Moment About Black Men And Mental Health
By Paula Penebaker Being a Black man in America often means being your brother’s keeper. Yet, when it comes to mental health, many Black men still struggle to tackle this important issue. Today, this topic is being discussed more openly since actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards. Just moments later, […]
Milwaukee County Takes Measures on Suicide Prevention
By Ana Martinez-Ortiz When Amaii Collins was in high school she didn’t feel OK. She didn’t know what was wrong, nor did she know how to broach the topic. “I didn’t know what it was like to feel happy about myself,” she said. “Or walk into a building and not feel like everyone was talking […]
Some Health Providers See Surge in Eating Disorders
By Matt Martinez Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Visit milwaukeenns.org. Some Milwaukee health leaders say they are seeing a surge in eating disorders that they link to challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month All Of Us
By Kathy Gaillard freelance contributor July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. It was first formally recognized in May 2008 by the late Bebe Moore Campbell, a best-selling author, journalist, teacher and mental health advocate. Campbell passed away from cancer at the young age of 56 but not before witnessing the devastation of identifying, […]
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office and Behavioral Health Department Collaborate to Create Crisis Assessment and Response Team
By Karen Stokes The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Department (BHD) to create an alternative to emergency detentions or arrests for individuals suffering from mental health issues. The partnership started with a series of conversations between Sheriff Earnell Lucas and the Behavioral Health Department Director Mike Lappen. “We […]
Milwaukee Youth Council Puts Focus on Mental Health Services
By Matt Martinez Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Visit milwaukeenns.org. Three nonprofits are one step closer to receiving funds to provide mental health services to youths after receiving a recommendation from the Milwaukee […]
Milwaukee County Honors BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month
By Karen Stokes July is BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) Mental Health Awareness Month. The Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division (BHD) are working to change structural inequities that exist within our systems and make services more accessible for everyone. BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month […]
Importance of Research in the African American Community
By Hope DeVougas Milwaukee, WI One Family’s Journey Hope is the primary caregiver for her 86-year old mother, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease. Her father, who passed away in 2013, also had Alzheimer’s disease. “My father developed Alzheimer’s the last year of his life,” says Hope. “At the time, we didn’t see the signs […]