In March of 2021, Elizabeth Joy sat down with four Black executives to talk about mental wellness and the unique struggles faced by the Black community and, specifically, Black helpers and leaders.
Joy began the conversation by describing some of the difficulties she encountered when creating and leading support groups for Black helpers as part of the Black Community Ambassadors Support Program. Often, individuals who identify professionally as helpers (such as teachers, nurses, social workers, and organizers), struggle to receive support themselves. This issue is exacerbated by the far-reaching and negative effects on mental health and well-being of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social justice movement, and the stigma around receiving support for these struggles, especially in the Black community.
Viewed as “successful” by society’s standards, the members of this panel open up about their own struggles with wellness, and the importance of vulnerability and authenticity when having these difficult conversations.
See the video below:
To read the NBC4 article or watch ‘The Conversation, Episode 7,’ go to: https://www.nbc4i.com/news/theconversation/nbc4-announces-next-episode-of-the-conversation/