Created June 2013; Revised September 2020
Mental Illness (& Health): What We
Need ToKnow & Do To Cope
– A Faith-based African-American
Perspective
Presented by NAMI Main Line PA,
an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Presenter:
Craig A. DeLarge
Board Member, NAMI Main Line PA
Please view the final slide for NAMI Main Line PA contact information,
as well as contact information for the presenter.

2
Information Included
• Mental Illness (MI):
– What is it?
– What causes it?
– How is it treated?
• What We Can Do for Ourselves, Our
Families & Communities re: MI

3
My Goal Today
• Educate your Mind against Fear & Stigma
• Inspire your Heart to Compassion
• Animate your Will to Action

4
Disclaimer
• I am NOT a doctor or therapist
• I am NOT professionally trained
• I am experientially trained
• I am on a journey & I am here to share
what I have acquired

5
Our Fear & Stigma
Will Not Save Us
Job 3:25 - For the thing which I greatly
feared is come upon me, and that which I
was afraid of is come unto me.

6
Life’s Trouble Equips for Comfort
II Corinthians 1:4 - Who comforteth us in all
our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort them which are in any trouble, by
the comfort wherewith we ourselves are
comforted of God.

What is Mental Illness?
• abnormal patterns of
thinking, emotion or
behavior
• associated with distress
& a lack of functioning,
that can vary greatly
• can manifest:
– as acute or chronic
– with stable or fluid
symptoms 7

What is Mental Illness?
• onset is common in
adolescence and early
adulthood
• lack of awareness of
illness & refusal of care
common
8

What are the Mental Illnesses?
• Depression
• Panic & Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorder
• Obsessive - Compulsive
Disorder
• Schizophrenia
9

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Mental Illness Depicted In Bible
Nahum 2:10 - She is emptied! Yes, she is
desolate and waste! Hearts are melting and
knees knocking! Also anguish is in the whole
body. And all their faces are grown pale!
Jonah 2:5-7 - The waters closed in over me to
take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds
were wrapped about my head at the roots of the
mountains. I went down to the land whose bars
closed upon me forever.

What Causes Mental Illnesses?
• Genetic Heritage
• Traumatic Stress
• Brain chemistry &
structure
• Usually combinations of
all the above
11

What are Effects of Mental Illness?
• Individual
– inability to function,
even if willing
– incarceration
– alienation/transience
• Familial
– systemic sickness;
– caregivers role
– coping with stigma
– grieving
– dealing with torturous
mental health system
12

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Effects & Opps Among A-As
• Poverty, foster status (45%), homelessness (40%) &
incarceration (50%), violent exposure increase odds of MI
• A-As:
– less likely to get accurate diagnosis thus need for
more competence in dealing with SYSTEM
– underrepresented as treaters thus need for more A-
As to train as Psychs & SWs
– have cultural bias against MH system resulting in
lower access to care thus greater need for education

14
Effect & Opps Among A-As
• A-As:
– prone to seeking support in community vs system thus
community needs mental health competence
– metabolize meds more slowly while getting higher
doses resulting in worst side effects & lower
compliance thus need to better understand
treatment regimens
– For more information on this subject visit:
– www.nami.org
– https://nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Black-
African-American

Typical, but Unproductive,
Responses to Mental Illness
• Denial/Stigma
• Shame/Guilt
• Anger/Bitterness
• Isolation/Despair
• Succumbing to MI
under “caregiver
stress” 15

How is Mental Illness Treated?
• Psychotherapy
• Medication
• Diet/Exercise/Rest
• Time/Care
16

17
Recovery & Functionality
are Possible!!!

18
My Story: MI Effect on Me
• Anger & deep sense of grief & sadness as father
over lost opportunities
• Guilt over my role as cause of son’s MI as well
as enforcer of care & accountability
• In denial & confused regarding balance
between care & accountability

19
My Story: My Coping & Recovery
• Education, on own, & in community, and
especially via NAMI Family-to-Family Program!
• Seeking community with like afflicted – National
Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Care & comforting of self, wife, children,
siblings & extended family & community
• Patient, persistent practice & engagement to
build resilience

20
God Knows How To Restore
Joel 2:25 - And I will restore to you the
years that the locust hath eaten

21
What We Can Do!

22
What Can We Do for Ourselves?
• Avoid denial when getting feedback about your
own abnormal patterns
• Engage in continuous counseling: self,
community & one-on-one
• Commit to preventative self-care of mind,
emotions, body, diet, sleep & relationships
• When ill, submit to treatment (if you can)

23
What Can We Do for Our Families?
• Patiently persist towards recovery
• Get educated (though perplexing)
• Balance accountability with care
• Cultivate a “community of like-afflicted”

24
What Can We Do for Our
Communities?
• Be models of mental health & resilience
• Stand against stigma & shame
• Be compassionate - “Good Samaritans”
• Learn available resource & the SYSTEM

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Very Key Point!
• Mental Illness is no one’s fault and not a
character flaw
• Mental Illness is a journey we must travel
together with care & accountability
• Energy better invested in work towards
recovery than in blame & anger

Resources I Suggest
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
– NAMI Main Line PA Support Groups
– Family-to-Family Education Program
– NAMI Resource & Forensics Guide
– NAMI Main Line PA Introduction to Services
• Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental
Health Awareness Month (April 2020)
• The Safe Place: Mobile app for African American
Mental Wellnes
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Photo Credits
• shadow boy: [link defunct]
• man holding head: http://l.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/canstock1156116.jpg
• tearing lady (black & white): [link defunct]
• girl with head on: [link defunct]
• boy with head in hands:
http://www.uwhealth.org/files/uwhealth/images/img3/img_depression
_150.jpg
• woman in yellow tank:
http://www.blackhealthzone.com/wp-
content/uploads/2011/02/depression.jpg
• brain & stethescope: [link defunct]
• woman in black kerchief: http://www.race-talk.org/wp-
content/uploads/2009/12/105641_behind-the-scenes-precious-150x150.jpg
• boy in chair:
http://www.blackballot.com/weekly_report/images/022110_Manic_Depressi
on_Africa n_American.jpg

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• child in cell: boy in chair: [link defunct]
• hands reaching for man: [link defunct]
• bottle of pills: [link defunct]
Photo Credits

Presented by NAMI Main Line PA
an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness
www.NAMIMainLinePA.org
info@NAMIMainLinePA.org
Contact presenter Craig A. DeLarge at
craig@wiseworking.com
for more information on any of the topics in this presentation.
All information is current as of publication date; please let us know if you encounter broken hyperlinks.