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ACB Wellness Newsletter

ACB Wellness Project Newsletter (Issue 3)

In this Issue:

  • Issue 3 contributors

  • Psychological trauma

  • Prevalence of trauma in ACB communities

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

  • Intergenerational trauma and mental health

About Issue 3

Understanding emotional and psychological trauma is important because it impacts individual mental health and overall well-being. African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities deal with some challenges and experiences that can cause mental distress and lead to negative mental health outcomes. In this newsletter, we highlight the complicated intersection between racial trauma, intergenerational trauma, and mental health in the ACB communities. Trauma is a big issue that seriously affects mental health causing distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

We all feel low at times, but how do we know when to seek mental health support? To collaborate and for more information email ACBWellness@norquest.ca.

Issue Contributors

 

Rudo F. Mapanga (PhD) is a biomedical scientist, researcher and educator with a PhD in Physiological Sciences from Stellenbosch University, South Africa (2013), and an MA in Education (Innovation in Learning and Teaching) from the University of South Wales (2020). She is currently completing her practical nurse diploma for internationally educated nurses (PNDIEN) and was nominated for the prestigious NorQuest presidential award for 2024. Rudo is a research assistant for both the ACB Wellness project and a collaborative project with the CLPNA, and has worked as a community support worker at Entrust Disabilities since April 2022. Rudo has published at least 20 articles in high-impact biomedical journals and has presented at conferences in South Africa, the US, UK, and Japan. She has been a biomedical lecturer at universities in South Africa, Kazakhstan and Zimbabwe since 2007.
 

Rachel Amani is an exemplary care provider and advocate for underserved women in the Ivory Coast. She graduated from the National Training Institute for Health Workers in 2009 and served for ten years as a midwife. Throughout her career, she has brought education, compassion, and support to women with limited means and knowledge. Her self-development journey led her to Edmonton in 2020 with no comprehension of English. This journey has resulted in her recognition with the 2022 English as a Second Language Excellence Award. She was then accepted in the License Practical Nurse program in 2023. Rachel’s ongoing commitment to community support is apparent through her involvement in RBC’s Ambassadors program, which promotes education and provides support to NorQuest students. Her busy schedule includes her work with the ACB Wellness project.
 

Trish Ellison-Traverse (RSW) is a WILCEC Career Coach at NorQuest College. She has been in this position for one year. Previously, Trish worked in the inner city advocating for and supporting individuals with disabilities. She has a Diploma in Social Work (2007) from MacEwan and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (1994) from the University of Victoria. She is an active and registered social worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers.
 

Viola Manokore (PhD) is the lead of the ACB wellness project that focuses on mental health awareness and systems navigation. Viola is an internationally recognized educator and researcher. Her PhD is in Curriculum, Instruction and Teacher Education from Michigan State University. Her academic journey enhanced her passion for creating learning and teaching environments that value students’ out-of-school funds of knowledge. Click here to view Viola’s profile.

 

What is trauma?

Most people will face a tough situation that can be considered traumatic. Trauma occurs when someone gets hurt or sees something very upsetting, like a serious accident, the death of someone close, or a big disaster. This experience can affect a person's emotions and thoughts deeply. Trauma isn't always direct; sometimes, just being close to someone who has gone through something bad can make another person feel traumatized. It can happen at any age and can hurt someone's feelings, body, or mind, having a long-lasting impact on their well-being.

Understanding Trauma

Tahan et al. (2021) defines psychological trauma as the damage that occurs to the human mind or a person’s inner thoughts, feelings, or behaviors following exposure to a stressful single/multiple event(s) that destroy a person’s sense of security making them feel frightened and helpless in a dangerous world. In other words, psychological trauma refers to the emotional and psychological responses to distressing events. It can result from various forms of violence, abuse, bullying, being kidnapped, discrimination, or witnessing traumatic events, and may manifest as symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and difficulty regulating emotions.

More than 90% of people experience a traumatic event in their lives and the most common traumatic disorder is PTSD, of which Canada was reported to have the highest lifetime prevalence of PTSD in a survey of 24 countries. 

 

 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Beyond these, individuals may experience emotional numbness, avoidance of anything related to the trauma, and heightened reactivity (e.g., irritability, and angry outbursts).

Impact on Mental Health: The trauma at the root of PTSD can affect numerous aspects of mental health. Individuals with PTSD may face challenges such as:

  • Depression and Anxiety: It's common for those with PTSD to also experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. The overlapping symptoms like sleep disturbances, concentration issues, and heightened alertness can exacerbate both conditions.
  • Substance Use: To cope with the distress and emotional pain, individuals might turn to alcohol or drugs, leading to substance use disorders.
  • Cognitive and Memory Issues: Trauma can affect cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, and decision-making, often due to the high levels of stress hormones and their impact on brain function.

Comorbid Conditions: PTSD often does not occur in isolation. It can be accompanied by other psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. The presence of these comorbid conditions can complicate diagnosis and treatment, requiring comprehensive approaches that address all facets of an individual's mental health.

Treatment Approaches: Effective treatment for PTSD typically involves a combination of psychotherapy and, in some cases, medication. Below are some PTSD symptoms.

 

 

 

 

 

The ABCs of Racial Trauma

Racial trauma is the emotional and psychological trouble or worry that a person experiences because of life’s events or experiences they come across because of their race or ethnicity. It is also defined as traumatization due to distressing experiences that can include physical/ psychological threats to oneself or witnessing such threats to another based on race or ethnicity. 

These experiences can be easily seen or hidden in racism and occur in the form of colorblindness, everyday racial discrimination, structural racism, internalized racism, and stereotyping that can result in microaggressions.  

Colorblindness refers to the belief or attitude that race should not matter, and that individuals should be treated equally regardless of race or ethnicity. While the intentions may be good, colorblindness can invalidate the experiences of marginalized groups and perpetuate racial inequality

Microaggressions (small subtle actions or words)- are often unintentional but communicate negative messages that show disrespect or a low value towards marginalized groups. These harmless interactions can contribute to feelings of invalidation and psychological distress Because they can be hurtful or offensive to someone because of their race, gender, ethnicity, or other aspects of their identity. 

Everyday racial discrimination refers to the unrecognized/ unacknowledged acts of racism that occur in daily situations when someone is treated unfairly or differently because of their race or ethnicity. It can happen in many ways, like being refused a job, being treated poorly by others, or facing unfair laws or policies because of your race.  

Internalized racism occurs when individuals internalize negative beliefs, stereotypes, and attitudes about their own racial or ethnic group. It can contribute to feelings of inferiority, self-hatred, and feeling torn between aspects of who they are or what they believe (e.g., “Black people are violent,” etc.).  

Structural/systemic racism is the type of racism embedded in social systems that have been structured in ways that limit the ability of people of color to access social, educational, economic, and political opportunities.  

 

The link between racial trauma, mental health, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the ACB communities

Racial trauma, mental health, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are closely interconnected in African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities. These communities have experiences of racism and discrimination that can lead to significant psychological distress.

  1. Racial Trauma: This refers to the mental and emotional injury caused by encounters with racial bias, ethnic discrimination, and hate crimes. For individuals in ACB communities, these experiences can be frequent and pervasive, leading to a cumulative impact over time.
     
  2. Mental Health Impact: Racial trauma can manifest in various mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. The chronic stress of dealing with racism can also lead to more severe psychological outcomes, including PTSD.
     
  3. Development of PTSD: In ACB communities, PTSD might not only stem from a single event but also from ongoing exposure to racial discrimination. Symptoms might include hypervigilance, flashbacks to traumatic incidents, and avoidance of situations that might trigger memories of trauma.
     
  4. Barriers to Treatment: There can be significant barriers to seeking and receiving effective treatment for PTSD and other mental health issues within ACB communities. These can include stigma around mental health, lack of culturally competent healthcare providers, and historical mistrust of medical systems due to past abuses.
     
  5. Culturally Competent Approaches: It’s crucial to use culturally informed treatment approaches that acknowledge and address the impact of racial trauma. Therapies that incorporate an understanding of cultural, historical, and social factors affecting ACB communities can be more effective. Community-based support and interventions designed specifically for ACB communities can also be crucial in healing.

Addressing the link between racial trauma, mental health, and PTSD in ACB communities requires a comprehensive approach that considers the unique experiences and challenges faced by these populations.

 

Intergenerational/generational trauma and mental health

In most cases, the negative mental health outcomes from psychological trauma in the ACB communities impact the mental health and well-being of subsequent generations resulting in generational/intergenerational trauma (e.g. colonialism). This is a form of trauma that occurs to people whose ancestors experienced trauma without exposure to the original traumatic event and can be passed down through 14 generations. A study by Scharpf et al. (2023) shows that an increased risk of mental health problems in children occurs when mothers (before and during pregnancy) have higher trauma exposure that reduces their emotional availability to the children. 

Yehuda and Lehrner (2018) reported on changes in biological responses to stress that occur during this time predisposing children to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Also, transmission of trauma may occur due to parental PTSD at an individual level or the availability of resources (cultural, political, spiritual, etc.) at a community level to make sense of, respond to, and heal from the trauma. The affected individuals may also inherit symptoms of mental health problems such as anxiety.

Individuals with generational trauma may develop symptoms like PTSD such as intrusive thoughts, avoidance/ social withdrawal, hypervigilance, low self-esteem, poor sleeping patterns, high blood pressure, and negative changes in mood and cognition. 

  • Intrusive thoughts are unwelcome, involuntary thoughts, images, or unpleasant ideas that may become an obsession, are upsetting or distressing, and can feel difficult to manage or eliminate.  
  • Social withdrawal occurs when one avoids interactions with others and isolates more than usual.  
  • Hypervigilance is a state of constant anxiety and high alertness which can be emotionally and mentally exhausting and may impact social skills and relationships.  
  • Low self-esteem causes individuals to judge themselves as inferior to their peers and use negative words such as “stupid or unlovable.”  
  • Poor sleeping pattern is the disruption of normal sleep patterns and rhythms. Sleep dysregulation can cause metabolic, hormonal, inflammatory, cognitive, and behavioral changes that may affect health and well-being.  

High blood pressure is common but can be serious if not treated. Individuals with high blood pressure may not feel symptoms and only know if blood pressure is checked.  

Where to seek help and some mental health resources
 

Considerations:
  • Primary Care Physician: Start by consulting your primary care doctor, who can assess your symptoms, provide initial guidance, and make referrals if needed.
     
  • Mental Health Professionals: Consider seeing a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, or therapist. They can offer therapy, diagnosis, and treatment options.
     
  • Helplines and Crisis Services: If you're in crisis or need immediate support, contact helplines like the distress like line or crisis text lines.
     
  • Support Groups: Support groups, both in-person and online, provide peer support and a safe space to discuss mental health concerns.
     
  • Community Mental Health Centers: Local mental health centers often offer a range of services, including therapy and counseling.
     

Where to seek mental health support
 

References

Cénat, J. M., Dalexis, R. D., Darius, W. P., Kogan, C. S., & Guerrier, M. (2021). Prevalence of current PTSD symptoms among a sample of Black individuals aged 15 to 40 in Canada: The major role of everyday racial discrimination, racial microaggressions, and internalized racism. Can J Psychiatry, 68(3), 178-186. https://doi.org/10.1177/07067437221128462

Holmes, S. C., Zare, M., Haeny, A. M., & Williams, M. T. (2024). Racial stress, racial trauma, and evidence-based strategies for coping and empowerment. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081122-020235

Jackman, C. (n.d.). Audience support for race-based traumatic stress. Boston Lyric Opera. https://blo.org/community-old/audience-support-for-race-based-traumatic-stress

Lee, A. T., Chin, P., Nambiar, A., & Hill Haskins, N. (2023). Addressing intergenerational trauma in Black families: Trauma-informed socioculturally attuned family therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 49, 447–462. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12632

Robinson, L., Smith, M., & Segal, J. (2024, February 5). Emotional and psychological trauma. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/coping-with-emotional-and-psychological-trauma.htm

Scharpf, F., Paulus, M., Christner, N., Beerbaum, L., Kammermeier, M., & Hecker, T. (2023). Intergenerational transmission of mental health risk in refugee families: The role of maternal psychopathology and emotional availability. Dev Psychopathol, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579423000846

Tahan, M., Taheri, H., & Saleem, T. (2021). Review of psychological trauma: Theory, practice, policy, and research. Riv Psichiatr, 56(2), 64-73. https://doi.org/10.1708/3594.35764

Williams, M. T., Khanna Roy, A., MacIntyre, M. P., & Faber, S. (2022). The traumatizing impact of racism in Canadians of colour. Curr Trauma Rep, 8(2), 17-34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40719-022-00225-5

Yehuda, R., & Lehrner, A. (2018). Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: Putative role of epigenetic mechanisms. World Psychiatry, 17(3), 243-257. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20568

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