July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month...Chicago's number-one social ill is gun-violence and crime. The root of this pain and hurt is trauma. Once,  we as a community address this issue to identify the trauma, we will start the process of turning the hurt into healing; providing all Chicagoans, specifically Black boys and Black men a better quality of life.

“HEALING the HURT”

Trauma Awareness Forum
#GROing FORWARD 

1-  Trauma is defined as overwhelming, frightening or distressing events and experiences. 

2-  Untreated trauma can lead to anxiety, depression, addictions, aggression and a host of mental/physical health conditions including heart disease, digestive issues and muscle/joint issues. 

3-  Research indicates poor communities of color are the MOST exposed and IMPACTED by trauma, specifically complex trauma known as C-PTSD.  Examples of complex trauma include parental abuse/neglect or addictions, domestic violence, losing loved ones to violence, life-altering or threatening experiences with police, judges, etc. racism, discrimination and oppression. 

4-  Black Americans make up 13 percent of the general U.S. population, but nearly 40 percent of the prison population. Black Americans with mental health conditions are more likely to be in jail or prison than people of other races and less likely to receive treatment. 

5-  There are less than 5% of Black American Psychologists and a growing concern that mental health care practitioners may not be culturally competent enough to treat complex trauma experienced by people of color. 

6- GRO is a mental health service provider that employs culturally competent male clinicians trained in trauma-informed care practices to help boys and men of color recover and heal from trauma.