Michael A. Walrond, Jr. faced a mental health crisis that changed his perspective on mental health care. Experiencing suicidal thoughts in his late 30s, Walrond recognized the lack of mental health education he received growing up in a Caribbean household. After seeking therapy which he credits with saving his life, he became aware of the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health in the African American community. Now, as a leader, he aims to address this stigma by integrating mental health care into his church, starting with hiring therapists to meet community needs.
I think in the African American community, historically, there's been the normalization of trauma. You don't really see the mental health impact.
Out of nowhere, I had a suicidal ideation. I grew up in a traditional West Indian Caribbean household; it definitely wasn't talked about.
Therapy has saved my life. I wonder how many others in my community are suffering in silence.
Initially, I hired a part-time therapist based on a hunch that people would utilize the services, but the demand was even greater than expected.
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