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The stigma with mental illness in the black community is thick.

 

Learn more about PTSD from Jeffrey Jones (US Army, 1989-1994) and other Veterans who’ve been there: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/AboutFace

Transcript

But the stigma, the
stigma with mental illness

in the black community
is very...it's thick.

It's thick because, first
of all, and it goes back

to my own esteem, when
you...when I identify myself

as having this mental illness,
first thing in my family,

in the black community is
like, "Oh Lord, he crazy."

So nobody wants to be labeled crazy.

If you crazy, you don't have friends.

If you crazy, you by yourself.

Nobody wants to deal with
you because you're crazy.

So now, if you do have
a mental illness, shh.

Don't tell them.

Don't tell 'em you hearing
voices, don't you tell them.

Don't tell 'em you're
depressed, don't tell them.

She ain't been able to talk
about it. Can't talk about it.

And so, you know, I'm gonna
talk about it, you know?

And I'm not ashamed. I'm not ashamed.

You know, the shame is
in not saying anything.

And the shame is not educating people

about what mental health is.

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