Unlearn The Lies About Mental Health

Mental health is discovering and embracing your authentic self while equipping yourself with the tools to stand in your truth confidently. It's an ongoing process of self-discovery, self-care, and maintaining a balance that allows you to thrive. Just as you can't pour from an empty cup, taking care of your mental health ensures you can support not only yourself but also those around you. It's about acknowledging the importance of inner well-being and actively nurturing it.

In this episode, Victoria passionately discusses the unique challenges Black students face regarding mental health and explores the intertwining factors of stigma, lack of resources, and cultural nuances that impact mental health conversations within the Black community. Join us as we gain a deep understanding of how the Unapologetically Free initiative is making a difference through partnerships, awareness campaigns, and research in breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. Be encouraged into this enlightening episode that unpacks the significant impact of prioritizing our mental health in nurturing holistic growth within the Black community and empowering future generations. 

Today, we're joined by Victoria works alongside the Director of Strategy to help develop strategies that improve the resilience and sustainability of Black colleges and universities, as well as the cultivation of ICB's mission and vision. Specifically, Victoria oversees emerging initiatives, including those related to mental health and the future of work.

The daughter of two educators, Victoria, has experience as an attorney. She uses her experience with researching, innovative thinking, attention to detail that she honed as a lawyer and love for education to propel her drive to strategize creative ways to lead HBCUs to continue to lift as we climb. Victoria holds a bachelor's degree from Howard University. She earned her Juris Doctorate from The University of Georgia School of Law.

"You can't fill up anybody else's cup if you're on empty." – Victoria Smith

Show Highlights:

(00:00:00) Episode disclaimer, highlight, and introduction

(00:02:33) Welcoming today's guest, Victoria Smith.

(00:03:19) Who is Victoria Smith?

(00:05:35) State of Black Mental Health at HBCUs

(00:08:17) Factors Supporting Mental Health at HBCUs

(00:09:21) The existing sense of community

(00:10:23) How does the TRIO program help Abraham?

(00:11:47) Abraham's personal experience with depression and stigma

(00:13:22) Depression is a real thing.

(00:14:24) Barriers to Seeking Help

(00:15:30) Lack of knowledge, access, and trust in the medical field 

(00:19:24) What is an endowment? 

(00:20:29) The significant disparity in endowments between HBCUs and PWIs.

(00:23:16) This episode is powered by Speaks to Inspire, the mental health solution for young adults suffering in silence. Speaks 2 Inspire works with colleges and universities to create and implement safe, comprehensive programs for campuses nationwide.

(00:23:59) What does the Unapologetically Free do?

(00:25:34) Providing an inclusive environment for students to learn and thrive.

(00:26:17) What kind of assistance does unapologetically free provide to black colleges?

(00:27:00) Upcoming event: The Unite 2023

(00:29:50) The legacy and connections of UNCF within the HBCU community.

(00:32:21) How can we eradicate the mental health stigma?

(00:34:37) Increasing black people's access and utilization of mental health support.

(00:36:17) Eradication is the ultimate goal.

(00:36:30) What is mental health to Victoria Smith?

(00:37:04) Mental health is a journey of self-discovery and self-care.

(00:38:04) Unapologetically Free resources available on the website: https://www.unapologetically-free.org/

(00:40:06) Where to connect with Victoria?

(00:41:01) The 14 Ways to support your students' mental health guide

(00:41:47) If you need that support for your mental health, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 9-8-8 now. For local and national resources, go to http://www.speaks2inspire.com/resources. Join the Unlearn the Lies About Mental Health Facebook group: https://bit.ly/UTLcommunity. 

(00:43:13) Outro

Key Takeaways:

"I believe in the importance of HBCUs in the Black community. I believe in their legacy." – Victoria Smith

"Thinking of everybody else in your family who you're there for and the legacy can sometimes be overwhelming as well, and so, you tend not to put yourself first." – Victoria Smith

"Being able to see yourself experience different cultures within your cultures, certain things you don't have to worry about because there's already a level of understanding that exists and the sense of community is there." – Victoria Smith

"I remember going from being this enthusiastic student to being super down and isolating myself. And I didn't know I was depressed because I didn't have a name for it." – Abraham Sculley

"There's the stigma of religion being the way that you do fix anything wrong." – Victoria Smith

"When you have a lack of resources, you almost have to figure out how can I get creative with what I do have?" – Abraham Sculley

"The dedication and the legacy precede us, so that makes outreach a little bit more seamless than if we didn't have that." – Victoria Smith

"With the lack of trust in the medical field, seeing somebody like you in the room that you were talking to brings a sense of ease." – Victoria Smith

"Being able to speak on the story on platforms like this and bringing people into knowing the impact that their partnership will have on the greater community as a whole." – Victoria Smith

"I'm trying to remain optimistic that we at least move the needle in a positive direction. Eradication is the ultimate goal, and that would be a dream." – Victoria Smith

"Mental health is promoting the journey of finding your true self and learning the tools to stand firmly in learning who you truly are." – Victoria Smith

"When we are in that abundance, we have an opportunity to recognize those who need that support and support our students." – Abraham Sculley

"You don't even have to be in crisis to reach out." – Abraham Sculley

"It's best to have the resource and not need it than to need it and not have it." – Abraham Sculley

Connect with Victoria via the following:

· Website: https://www.unapologetically-free.org/

· Email: victoria.smith@uncf.org 

. Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNCFICB

. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncficb/

. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@uncficb/

. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-a-smith-esq/; https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/uncf-institute-for-capacity-building/

Unlearn the Lies About Mental Health is Hosted by Abraham Sculley.

· Contact Speaks 2 Inspire to learn about S2I programs: https://speaks2inspire.com/services/.

· Mental health resources for students: https://speaks2inspire.com/resources/.

· Connect with Abraham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrahamsculley/.

· Order a copy of Unlearn the Lies at https://amzn.to/32B2jRh.

· Join the Unlearn the Lies About Mental Health Facebook group: https://bit.ly/UTLcommunity.

. 14 Ways to Support Your Students' Mental Health [free guide] - https://bit.ly/mentalhealthguide4

This episode is powered by Speaks 2 Inspire, the mental health solution for young adults suffering in silence. Speaks 2 Inspire works with colleges and universities to create and implement safe, comprehensive programs for campuses across the nation.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Crisis Text Line by texting "Home" to 741741 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255.