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Fireflies Unite
TIME STIGMA

Most Black people work Even after all the recent them, therapy is a status on several websites for
for a living. Even if they’re hype from Black celebrities symbol. They have to take a Black therapist and
professionals with some like Taraji P. Henson and time to see their therapist saw my profile. A lot of with T-Kea Blackman
autonomy and flexibility Charlamagne tha God about because it’s a reflection Black people I encounter
at their workplaces, many the importance of mental of how much they care for prefer Black therapists.
work traditional hours. health treatment, there is themselves. Therapy for They want someone who
Full-time employment still a stigma attached to them is akin to going to the comprehends our cultural
often demands scheduling it in the Black community. gym. And I love to see it and nuances and recognizes the
therapy sessions in the As a clinician, I am often hear it. Yes, mental health nonverbal cues that only
evenings or on weekends. told by Black clients that therapy is about putting we can understand. Black
Of course, those slots their families “warned” yourself first. If a client therapists don’t get much
fill quickly, leaving only them about the dangers of has been through trauma, media exposure unless we
appointments on weekdays coming to therapy or their done something that they self-promote, but we are
before 4pm. Generally, pastors told them that the perceive as shameful or just here. Clients might have to
only those who work from only safe place to talk is in want to talk about people take a deep dive to find us, T-Kea Blackman invested a lot of
home, are retired, or who church or to God. Family at work who irritate them, especially if they’re looking time in the mental health com-
work part-time are able to support is important and it’s all important and worth for one with a specialty in munity. She not only started her
attend at such times. But having a spiritual life is discussing. I’m hoping that a certain area but we are
even if a client can procure also important but there my Black people realize available if they want us. own podcast, but she is a First Aid
one of those coveted time is also a sense of relief that mental health therapy Mental Health Trainer and has her
slots, attending therapy one gets when talking to is one of the best self-care own experience with mental well-
still means blocking out someone who is unbiased activities a person can do ness. She takes her transparency
a minimum of two hours and can just listen without for themselves. to her podcast as she continues to
every week. Unfortunately, offering their advice or a
many Black people don’t scripture (although there ACCESS TO BLACK help her listeners understand men-
have the additional time or are therapists who can do CLINICIANS tal health. She provides consulting
enough support from family the latter too). I’m often as well as speaking engagements
members for things like pleased at the pride some When I first meet clients, on her website. Helpful Living
child care to attend therapy of my non-Black clients I ask how they found Magazine had the opportunity to
sessions. have about attending me. Most of them tell
therapy. For some of me they were looking talk with Kea and discuss her mis-
sion for Fireflies Unite.

This is not an exhaustive list of
the challenges members of the
Black community encounter
when trying to access mental HL: How did you come up with the name Fire- HL: What made you want to create a plat-
health treatment, but a lack flies Unite? form for people who are dealing with mental
of financial resources, time
scarcity, the stigmatization I was having a brainstorming session with my health?
associated with therapy, and
the limited visibility of Black cousin and we were thinking of names that spoke I created the platform because I found comfort and
clinicians are all obstacles that to what I wanted to do with my brand. I can’t take connection with people who could identify with my
should be considered when full credit as my cousin helped me come up with challenges. My goal is to build a large community
discussing why many people do the name and the meaning behind it. Fireflies Unite of people of color who openly talk about mental
not seek assistance. Hopefully, is the first and only mental health media and com- health using media.
some of these issues can be munications company. Its mission is to bring light
discussed in bigger forums and HL: As a First Aid Mental Health Trainer, what
addressed as the conversation into darkness (just like the fireflies) by sharing the are some things people can learn about this
surrounding mental health stories of people of color who live and thrive with
treatment in the Black mental health conditions through digital, social, training and who would you suggest this
community continues to grow. print and broadcast media, events, training, and training for?
community partnerships. This is only the begin-
Halcyon Francis, ning as I have a long way to go to build the brand Mental Health First Aid training is for everyone as
DSW, LCSW-C but I am happy with the direction it is going in. the training teaches you how to identify the signs
H.F. & Associates, LLC and symptoms of mental illness and substance
hfrancis@hfandassoc.com
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