Kanye and Why Mental Health is Important

Reality TV superstar, Kim Kardashian West, recently opened up about her husband, Kanye West’s recent episode with bipolar disorder.

Grammy award winning hit-maker, Kanye West revealed back in 2018 that he suffered from the mental health condition.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects your moods, which can swing from one extreme to another.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

People with bipolar disorder have episodes of:

• depression – feeling very low and lethargic
• mania – feeling very high and overactive

Symptoms of bipolar disorder depend on which mood you’re experiencing.

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Unlike simple mood swings, each extreme episode of bipolar disorder can last for several weeks (or even longer).

This recent news, led me to reflect on mental health in the Black community in the UK.

In the Black community, there is a negative stigma surrounding mental health.  This can discourage people within the community from talking about it. It could also be a barrier to engagement with health services. 

Mental Health Data

• The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) found that Black men were more likely than their White counterparts to experience a psychotic disorder in the last year. 
• In Black Caribbean groups, the risk of psychosis is estimated to be nearly seven times higher than in the White population. 
• The impact of the higher rates of mental illness is that people from these groups are more likely than average to encounter mental health services.  
• Detention rates under the Mental Health Act during 2017/18 were four times higher for people in the ‘Black’ or ‘Black British’ group than those in the ‘White’ group.
• The Count Me in Census, which collects information on inpatient care, found higher than average admission and detention rates for Black groups in every year since 2006 to 2010.
• Black men were reported to have the highest rates of drug use and drug dependency than other groups. 
• Whilst the White Caucasian population experienced the highest rates for suicidal thoughts, suicide rates are higher among young men of Black African, Black Caribbean origin, and among middle aged Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian women than among their White British counterparts.

[Data from Mental Health Organisation UK]

Mental health and well being, particularly in the workplace, is a subject close to my heart. I have championed and advocated for awareness throughout my corporate career.

Finding the Balance

I’m a strong believer in finding the appropriate work life balance. In order to balance my working life and family life, I work flexibly. Even before working from home became the norm for most of us during the lockdown, my normal working pattern was to work 50% of the week in the office and 50% at home.

Since becoming a mum, I’ve been fortunate to be able to negotiate, having one working day off in the week. This one day, ultimately became ‘my day’ to do whatever I pleased! Whether it was bonding time with the family, going to the gym, meeting with friends over coffee, going to the salon and of course writing! It was essentially my day and time out from the pressures of modern life.

I also strongly believe in creating your own space. Modern life can be extremely fast paced and in this social media age, with lots of information to process, one can feel overwhelmed.

I’ve always aim to create a demarcation between ‘my space’ and every other facet of my life. I strongly believe it’s important for individuals to reconnect with themselves and re-discover their innate passions and interests.

The Effects of Social Media

I believe social media has it benefits, especially for reconnecting with friends and distant relatives, or promoting a business or brand.

However, it can have harmful effects on one’s mental health. This is due to the pressure to create the perfect life; and the obsession with likes and followers. It must be said, that your social media page reflects just a small fraction of your life.

Read Also: Bipolar Disorder – Kanye West gets Wife’s support

Social media is another image of ourselves we present to the world. You are most likely to post the positive aspects of your life, as opposed to the day to day realities and challenges. Therefore, it is disingenuous to believe everything you read or see on social media.

Unfortunately, many people do believe the hype. This leads to an unhealthy cycle of comparing or imitating one’s life to another.

Personally, I have tended to take social media breaks. I deactivate for months on end when I’m in my contemplative and reflective mode.

Being away from social media, allows me to be fully connected to myself, without distraction. In this space, I do whatever makes me happy.

This can vary from writing, reading, dancing to Afro Beats, or listening to my favourite gospel songs, whilst singing at the top of my voice! I feel at my closest to God when I do the things that make me happy!

At the heart of it all, your well-being and mental health is crucial for a well-balanced and healthy life.

So do check on loved ones, do help those in need and do look after your mind and well-being.

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