I enjoyed this book. The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health gave me exactly what I expected and then some. Black mental health is often overlooked, marginalized, or ridiculed. This book is right on time with providing education and guidance.

I learned many things from this book, such as mental conditions and about the overall state of black mental health. I also had my feelings and thoughts validated. I feel better knowing now it is ok to take a break, to take a black day. Life can be exhausting, and it is ok to take a step back and take care of myself.

This book is an important read, especially with today's climate.We can take the information in this book and better ourselves. I highly recommend this book.

To be clear right from the get-go, as a white chick, I’m not the intended audience of The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health by Rheeda Walker. It’s written by a Black woman directed at Black people. However, it also offers interesting cultural insights that are relevant to all audiences.

The author explains that she did a Ph.D. in psychology because she wanted to challenge the privileged assumption that depression in Black people looks the same as in white people.

Throughout the book, she gives scenarios to illustrate the concepts covered. These are all explicitly tied into Black culture and the things that Black people are faced with. The notion of improving psychological fortitude underpins the various topics covered.

Early on, the book addresses the issue of suicide. Walker acknowledges that it’s a common belief among Black pastors that suicide is a white people issue, and Black people are seen as being too resilient for suicide.

Racism and its effects come up often throughout the book. Walker gives suggestions on how how to distinguish between disordered anxiety and the very real worries that Black people face because of racism and situations like the killing of Trayvon Martin.

The author argues that assimilation won’t help, and can lead to the internalization of racist ideas. Her research has shown than Black people who don’t view their own Blackness in a positive light are at a higher risk for suicide.

She suggests that psychological fortitude benefits the most from increasing connectedness with Black culture. She encourages embracing natural hair and African American Vernacular English (you may be more familiar with the term Ebonics) as examples to promote reconnection.

There’s a chapter devoted to faith, and the benefits in terms of both spirituality and connection to culture and community. The author makes it clear that talking to a pastor isn’t mental health care, and while you would pray to the Lord, “sometimes God sends a psychologist.”

The book offers suggestions on how to support your child’s mental health, as well as support your own wellbeing as a parent. There’s a chapter on therapy that covers how to access it, common misconceptions, and what therapy actually looks like. The author also covers some CBT-based coping tools.

While I can’t directly speak to how well this book will connect with target audiences, I found that it was very well written and delivered an important message. I would definitely recommend it.



https://mentalhealthathome.org/2020/05/20/book-review-the-unapologetic-guide-to-black-mental-health/