I am still emotional from the Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah, especially the revelation that Meghan was suicidal when she was pregnant with Archie. I am a staunch mental health advocate and I think I cried all night over the fact that Meghan couldn’t get help. But this revelation isn’t new as it pertains to Black women and WoC. When we voice our pain we are often told that “this is not the right time” or “we can’t help you,” which leaves us feeling even more isolated and alone. It is important to point out that mental health fitness is an uphill climb for Black women because the topic is still taboo in the Black community particularly. We are told to “pray,” “keep it moving,” “it can’t be that bad,” “others have it worse.” Which to me are all forms of gaslighting an dehumanizing. Now, Gabrielle Union is lending her voice in a rising movement amongst Black celebrities who are openly speaking about their mental health struggles. While at a Goop Virtual Weekend Summit, Union told Gwyneth Paltrow about the many dark moments she has had in her life. Here a few excerpts via People:
“I’ve had so many rock bottom moments as an adult, starting with being raped at 19 at gunpoint at my job,” said Union, according to E! News. “It just felt like every so many years there was some major catastrophic event that was happening in my life. You know, divorce, career setbacks, relationship issues. There’s always something that just lands you on your ass and you’re like ‘There’s no way I can move on from this, I’ll never recover, I’ll never be the same.’ ”
The L.A.’s Finest star, who said she’s currently experiencing perimenopause, which is the start of the transition to menopause, explained that her mental health hit an all-time low late last year following a fight with husband Dwyane Wade.
“I fell into something so dark in December that it scared me,” she said.
Fortunately, Union said she was “able to get through it with talk therapy and diving into how I can regulate my hormones.”
“Separating the symptoms from who you really are…to say that it’s a challenge, I don’t think I really have the words, or I lost them, to describe what these last few months have been,” Union added.
What I love about this conversation with Gabrielle is how she ties hormonal imbalance to mental health imbalances. For women going a transition these are still taboo topics. We have got to remove the stigma from these conversations about feminine change. I personally have gone through hormonal change that I thought was my becoming perimenopausal but it was just my hormones out of whack. I thought I was going crazy. The hot flashes alone made me feel nutty. I can relate to feeling alone in your depression and anxiety and not know how to ask for help or reach out. I believe having these conversations will save lives over time and make Black women particularly not feel so isolated and alone. I am loving how celebrities like Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Taraji P. Henson and Gabrielle are encouraging the Black community to use therapy and self-care to manage their mental health. Good on Gabrielle for being open about her PTSD and her perimenopausal mood swings. I hope she and many others continue to speak out about the importance of good mental health.
photos via Instagram
Mental health in the black community benefits from these disclosures, by reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking. Brava to Gab for sharing!
Bless her for coming forward and sharing her struggle. I love that we have these examples of strong women who speak out and share their difficulties, often to be met with derision. I am not Black and cannot relate to that part of her statement, but I know well enough that in many communities, it is considered a shameful thing to speak out or admit that not everything is right. The more we normalize conversations about mental health, the more we will get this “windows and mirrors” effect; we will see in ourselves our own suffering and seek out the help we need, well as see the suffering within others and respond with care and compassion.
Such an important message. Glad that so many black women celebrities are coming forward to encourage and advocate for mental health. It’s so critical to get the help and care you need and not be ashamed to reach out for it when needed.
I Like her. That is all!
Every time someone is brave enough to stand up and speak about this, they give strength and courage to others as well.
Gabrielle is amazing and I wish nothing but the best for her.
She is a treasure, and brave as hell. Respect.
I love her. And perimenopause is no joke. I got hit with hot flashes and depression last year that scared me a lot thanks to perimenopause. I’d always resisted anti depression meds but that was enough to get me on lexapro, which has helped a lot. It’s not a cure, but it’s a big help.
@jess, me too. When you learn about hormones and periods, no one talks about perimenopause. No one. I didn’t know until a girlfriend told me about it when I was complaining about hot flashes. Thank goodness she did. There is a lot of education needed about this time period in a woman’s life, and I hope as more people speak out, that information will be shared.
And the night sweats. Holy wow, the night sweats.
Hormones in peri menopause can really mess you up. I’m so glad to be well past that. I’m so glad Gabrielle is speaking out about it. It. Is. Real.
I love who Gabrielle Union has become in how she rings clear like a bell on a quiet night about issues that others ignore. I’m currently in therapy (again), and feel zero shame about it — I wish I had gone back sooner! But I have found that the people around me don’t really understand that therapy is a process, and it might be a long process, of me figuring out what I need to do to be the best human I can be. I didn’t get “healed” after the first session or the first month of sessions, and that’s exactly what I expected. I don’t need to find a new therapist because this one hasn’t fixed me fast enough, or chuck the whole attempt and continue drowning in depression; I don’t need to make checklists to deal with my ADHD, or talk to someone’s cousin’s friend in another state who had a great psychologist and who might have some tips for me. All I can do is continue the work that I’m doing, and I’d really love it if the people around me, the people who care *the most*, didn’t try to rush the process.
I just watched the Oprah interview with Meghan and Harry. It was so difficult to hear about the mental anguish that they went through and that Meghan had been suicidal. But, I am so grateful that Meghan was open about her struggles and that Gabrielle Union continues to discuss mental health challenges.
God bless Gabrielle Union and the amazing work she is doing. I hope for nothing but wonderful things for her and her family.