Mental Disorders: The Role Of Mental Health In African Americans

Mental health is very important when it comes to our well-being. Mental health is defined as a state of successful performance of mental functions, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to change and to cope with challenges (Healthy People 2020). But with mental health comes mental disorders and mental illness right behind it. Mental disorders are considered to be a health condition that affects ones behavior, mood and thinking and distress and/ or impaired functioning (Healthy People 2020). Mental illness is referred to as all diagnosable mental disorders together. The most common types of mental disorders are anxiety disorder, mood disorder, psychotic disorders, eating disorder, impulse and addiction disorder, personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). …show more content…
Mental health conditions of African Americans have high numbers that are strongly associated with poverty levels affecting many communities. Mental illness can sometimes be hard to detect. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness ½ of all chronical mental illness begins by the age of 14 and ¾ by the age 24. But even with treatment there is still considered to be a delay that can be over years between the first appearance of symptoms and when people get help. Mental illness for African Americans is a serious matter, but yet there are not a lot of things that are addressed. In the following pages there will be insight on African Americans and their mental