Category: Awareness

Awareness, Mental Health6 Comments

Depression in the Black Community (World Mental Health Day)

Sharea Farmer, LCSW

Depression in the Black Community “You’re just a little sad.” “Things will get better, don’t worry.” “All you need to do is pray; God will work it out.” “You come from a strong line of people, we’ve survived slavery, Jim Crow and years of racism; you can get through this problem.” To someone suffering with depression, these statements can be hurtful, angering and very isolating.  Depression is far from slavery, genocide, or the institution of racism, but to some it can be very frightening with very real pain. Depression is a mood disorder that deals in the simplest terms with … Continue reading Depression in the Black Community (World Mental Health Day)

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Mental Health in the Black Community…

Sharea Farmer, LCSW

  Mental Health in the Black Community… For many years I have heard people in the Black community pass judgment on others by using terms like, “crazy” or “touched”, to identify those that may suffer from mental illness.  This history of ignorance has created a huge stigma in our community.  The fact is, many Blacks do not believe or acknowledge mental illness as true medical condition. When it comes to problems? Just pray.  Well that is one way to look at how God works, but another way to look at it is through the Spanish proverb, “Pray to God, but … Continue reading Mental Health in the Black Community…

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Overview of Mental Illness

Sharea Farmer, LCSW

What is a mental illness?  A mental illness has been defined as “a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning (NAMI).”  Just like heart disease or diabetes, a mental illness is a medical condition.  I repeat a “medical condition.”  Usually with mental illness the person suffering can see a change, if not, total interference in their ability to handle their everyday life.  Mental illness does not discriminate by age, race, religion or income.  Therefore, it is important to remember that having a mental illness does not make you weak or … Continue reading Overview of Mental Illness

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Mental Illness Awareness Week Oct 7-13, 2012

Sharea Farmer, LCSW

  When I first got out of graduate school I felt like I knew exactly what I wanted to do;  I was going to give everyone all the knowledge I had acquired in the hope that this would help heal their pain.  Sounds good right, but try to translate that into an actual job.  Well I did, I became a therapist and worked as a mental health family support specialist.  I got the opportunity to work with the families of people suffering from a mental illness and provide an educational 12-week series on mental illness.  Now years later, I still … Continue reading Mental Illness Awareness Week Oct 7-13, 2012

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Proud to be a Social Worker!!!!

Sharea Farmer, LCSW

Professionally I have had a million different titles; supportive this, counselor or  therapist of that, supervisor of so and so, facilitator or instructor of this or that group and the list goes on.  However, no professional title has been more important to me then the title Social Worker.  That’s right, no matter what people title me, I Am a Social Worker!  And that is enough to be proud of, if done with love. Every now and then something or someone reminds me of why I am so proud to be a Social Worker.  Today I had plenty of reasons, but … Continue reading Proud to be a Social Worker!!!!