The Republican online newspaper –
Black Behavioral Health Network aiming to
reduce stigma, increase care in communities of
color
Updated: Aug. 20, 2024, 3:16 p.m. | Published: Aug. 20, 2024, 11:55 a.m.
Della Blake. (Sebastian Restrepo / Masslive, File) Sebastian Restrepo
By Lee Enochs | Special to The Republican
SPRINGFIELD — The Black Behavioral Health Network wants you to know that
mental health care is for everyone.
Since 2017, the network has been dedicated to bridging the health gaps and
disparities in African American and BIPOC communities, redefining the contours of
culturally competent and community-based care.
The network’s services include outpatient mental health and substance use
counseling, cultural liaison services, community outreach, support groups, case
management and recovery coaching. Its commitment to culturally specific support
groups and service directory development is a nod to the intricate tapestry of needs
within these communities.
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“We are committed to empowering individuals to take control of their mental health
journey and addressing the unique needs of marginalized populations,” said Della
Blake, the network’s executive director. “Our goal at the Black Behavioral Health
Network is to provide a safe, culturally competent space for African American and
BIPOC communities to heal and thrive.”
Since the country’s founding, its minority groups have been subjected to inequitable
health care. They are far less likely to seek mental illness treatment, compared to
their white counterparts, according to Mass General Brigham McLean hospital.
The mental health hospital notes that the stigma traces back to the era of American
slavery. Slaves weren’t allowed to suffer the same maladies as whites. That mindset
is entrenched in the culture, the hospital notes.
Nicole Darden, chair of the network’s board, said, “To effectively reduce the stigma
associated with receiving mental health care, it’s crucial that our services are
tailored to meet the unique needs and experiences of our community. By doing so,
we can foster a sense of trust and safety, encouraging more individuals to seek the
support they deserve.”
Racism — a public health threat — and race-related trauma, from witnessing police
brutality to subtle acts of racism, affects people differently, but is attributed to
increased PTSD rates among Black communities, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
“This has mental health implications for descendants of people, including Black
Americans, who have experienced oppression and violence,” notes McLean
hospital.
On top of those emotional burdens, Springfield has a poverty level of 22%, double
the national average, which adds outsized stressors to the lives of its sufferers. The
network is designed to act a bulwark and safety net against the tide of despair that
comes from teetering on the edge.
Blake said that the network’s staff possesses a profound understanding of the
cultural nuances and historical trauma that affect mental health outcomes in
communities of color. This approach is rooted in the Texas Christian University
evidence-based curriculum, tailored to meet the distinct needs of African American
individuals reentering society after incarceration and/or requiring recovery
support services.
“We believe that true transformation comes from addressing the intersection of
mental health, substance use and social determinants of health — and that is
exactly what our services are designed to do,” said Blake.
Katrina Spicer, a licensed addiction clinician with network, highlighted the
organization’s commitment to building a robust community infrastructure.
She said the network is providing much needed support for those people needing
transitional mental health resources, food stamps and detoxification care because
of substance abuse. Spicer noted Springfield’s escalating crisis with opioid and
fentanyl abuse within the black community as one of the focuses for the network.
“We’re not merely providing services; we’re cultivating a sense of community and
connection among our clients,” Spicer said. “By working in tandem with community
members to identify needs and develop solutions, we’re able to craft a nuanced and
responsive approach to care.”
In the future, the network expects to launch a residential reentry program, Blake
said, for clients needing a stopover between in-patient care and the community.
Springfield Partners for Community Action acts as the fiscal agent for the network.
Springfield Partners was the first community action agency established in Western
Massachusetts, created in 1964, and this year marks its 60th anniversary.
“Springfield Partners took on this fiscal role for (the network) because it saw this
work as a way to together tackle this important work at the intersection of poverty
and mental health among the Black and Brown Community,” said Lisa Davis,
spokesperson for the network and Springfield Partners.
For more information about the Black Behavioral Health Network and its services,
call the Black Behavioral Health Network at 866-462-2641 to learn about its services
and programs.