The City of Bloomington kicked off Black History Month Tuesday with a panel discussion on health and wellness in the Black community. This year's theme looks at the legacy of Black contributors, scholars, and practitioners in Western medicine and how American healthcare often underserved the Black community.
Tuesday’s conversation touched on distrust in the healthcare system, mental health stigma, and social media.
Michael Whiteside II, a mental health specialist and multicultural outreach coordinator with IU Counseling & Psychological Services, said conversation and education are ways to move the needle forward and embrace health and wellness interventions in the Black community.
“From a mental health standpoint, the first thing I would say is to acknowledge the historical pain,” Whiteside said.
He said it is especially important for Black people in the U.S. to discuss negative experiences and understand how it affects trust in medical professionals. Those medical professionals should then try to take healthcare conversations into nontraditional environments, such as churches, and meet community members where they are at.
“People often feel like they can’t ask for help," Whiteside said. "Help is almost this permission we have to seek out or we have to be of a certain status.”
Michael Whiteside II. (Courtesy: City of Bloomington/Michael Whiteside)
The panel also discussed the effects of social media.
Whiteside said digital platforms have opened doors for young people to have new conversations about mental health. But in terms of negative impacts, he said the key is honest discussion between parents and children about mental health. This can eventually help create a safe space where children feel okay asking for help.
“When they go to school…they’re going to be exposed,” he said. “We can’t stop the exposure, but we can manage the effects."
Dr. Tashera E. Perry, an OB-GYN with IU Health and an adjunct assistant professor for the IU School of Medicine, said it’s important for parents to be familiar with social media platforms.
“Know the platform,” Perry said. “If your child has a Tik Tok account, so do you.”
Later in the discussion, Perry said the biggest misconception about modern medicine is that it can fix everything. Considering it can’t, she encouraged people to be proactive with their health.
“Don’t wait until somethings broken, falling off, etc. to go to the doctor,” she said. “Go to your wellness visit and make that a priority.”
She said people should try to form new healthy habits one at a time. These small steps could include parking in the back of a parking lot, taking stairs instead of elevators, or drinking an extra glass of water.
“Those small things may not seem like a lot, but they will build up over time,” she said.
Dr. Tashera E. Perry. (Courtesy: IU Health)
The Visionary Leader Award is given to someone who inspires others through their long-term vision for the betterment of the community. Past recepients include City Councilmember Jim Sims, Donald and Nicole Griffin, and County Councilor Jennifer Crossley.
The city plans to host additional events to celebrate Black History Month in the coming weeks:
State of the Black Community Address–Feb. 15
Black History Month Essay Contest Awards Program–Feb. 17
Black History Month Gala- Feb. 26
Click here for a complete list of community events this month.
