“That’s white people problems,” said Taraji P. Henson’s character, “Cookie” on Wednesday’s episode of Empire’s on her eldest son “Andre’s” mental illness. Trai Byers, plays Andre a bipolar, Penn State graduate seeking his father’s approval and eventually the rights to his empire. In the midst of living in the shadows of his musically incline brothers “Jamal” and “Hakeem,” Andre’s storyline develops and his family is finally introduced to the fact that he is living with bipolar.
Having a mental illness in the black community has had a stigma attached to it. In an American Psychiatric Association brochure it states, “Many believe symptoms of mental illnesses, such as depression, are “just the blues.” Issues of distrust in the health care system and mental illness stigma frequently lead African Americans to initially seek mental health support from non-medical sources.” The stigma attached to mental health in the black community also leads to families wanting to hide this and this was certainly depicted on this episode of Empire when Taraji’s character Cookie, threatened Andre’s wife about telling anyone that he was bipolar.
I believe this was a very accurate depiction of mental illness and the black family. Often times it seems that mental illness is taboo in the black family and that instead of seeking help to better the situation black families would rather keep it a secret.
Having a mental illness in the black community has had a stigma attached to it. In an American Psychiatric Association brochure it states, “Many believe symptoms of mental illnesses, such as depression, are “just the blues.” Issues of distrust in the health care system and mental illness stigma frequently lead African Americans to initially seek mental health support from non-medical sources.” The stigma attached to mental health in the black community also leads to families wanting to hide this and this was certainly depicted on this episode of Empire when Taraji’s character Cookie, threatened Andre’s wife about telling anyone that he was bipolar.
I believe this was a very accurate depiction of mental illness and the black family. Often times it seems that mental illness is taboo in the black family and that instead of seeking help to better the situation black families would rather keep it a secret.