Black women are choosing to care for their mental health, not just when things fall apart, but as a way to live more fully. We’re naming our needs, drawing boundaries, and working on our mental health in ways that past generations couldn’t always access.
Prioritizing your mental health isn’t about being “fixed.” It’s about feeling like the best version of yourself.
If you aren’t convinced that focusing on your mental health is important, here are a few reasons that might convince you:
1. Stress shows up in our bodies.
We’ve all been there: pushing through exhaustion, caring for everyone else, and living up to our “strong Black woman” reputation. But stress doesn’t just go away on its own. And we can’t always rely on other folks to check in on us. Then what happens? We keep pushing ourselves until our health starts to suffer. Conditions like hypertension, autoimmune disorders, and anxiety are often born from burnout. We may not be able to recognize it at first, but our bodies do.
As Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry, says, “Rest is a form of resistance because it disrupts and pushes back against capitalism and white supremacy.” Framed in that way, prioritizing rest, therapy, and mental health care becomes a revolutionary act.
2. We can heal from generational trauma.
Some of us were raised with silence around mental health. We heard “what goes on in this house stays in this house,” or learned early on that sharing openly and being vulnerable wasn’t safe or welcome.
As adults, though, we can disrupt history and heal. When we choose therapy, honest conversations, and emotional wellness, we’re not just helping ourselves—we’re creating a different legacy for the generations that come after us.
3. We don’t always have to be strong.
Black women often get applauded for being unshakeable. But what happens when we do shake? When we grieve, or rage, or break down? We don’t have to carry the weight on our shoulders just because we can.
Support should never be a reward for perfection. Black women deserve care even when we’re not holding it all together.
