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6th World Congress on
Mental Health, Psychiatry and Wellbeing
March 20-21, 2019 | New York, USA
Find More Information @ March 2019 Conference Series LLC Ltd 22
conferenceseries LLC Ltd
The archetype of the
“Strong BlackWoman”
and mental illness: How
do we address the gaps?
Modern beliefs and
symbolism in our
community have created some
problems. The “strong black
women” and the “angry black
women” stereotypes depict
images of proud women who
don’t take no for an answer.
Black girls are often taught to
“keep your head up” to get
through anything. While it can
be seen as a great life lesson, it
may also allow black women to
use this same coping strategy
through adulthood which
may foster an environment in
which they have to manage
everything. Regardless of what
is happening in your life, black
women are literally bred to be
strong ‘all the time’. While this
can be seen as positive in some
aspects, the image has been
carved in order to not allow
ourselves our humanity. If you
are suffering from depression
or anxiety, black women often
don’t acknowledge it because
they believe that they can’t.
The stereotypical image of the
strong black woman can also be
seen as a barrier to access to
mental health treatment. Issues
may not be seen as mental
health-related due to societal
mental health stigma. This
presentation aims to address
the concept of the “strong
black woman and its impact on
mental health and well being
of women of African descent.
What are some of the potential
gaps in psychotherapeutic care
and how can these gaps be
addressed?
Biography
Natasha Williams is a Registered
Psychologist, keynote speaker and co-
director of Allied Psychological Services in
Toronto, Canada. She is the current trainer
with the Adler Graduate Professional School
in the CBT certificate program. She is also
a guest facilitator/trainer with the Centre
for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in
topics such as culturally adapting cognitive
behavioral therapy for the English-speaking
Caribbean community and Motivational
Interviewing. She provides services in her
private practice including assessment,
consultation, supervision, individual
psychotherapy and training to clients from
diverse ethno-racial backgrounds, gender,
and socio-economic backgrounds.
Natasha Williams
N. S. Williams Psychology Professional
Corporation, Canada
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EMERGENCYMENTAL HEALTHANDHUMAN RESILIENCE 2019, VOLUME 21
DOI: 10.4172/1522-4821-C2-028
KEYNOTE FORUM | DAY 1