Mental Health- I believe in Therapy
Date: Apr 17, 2024
Category:Health & Wellness → Mental Health Education
Participants:
- Moderator
- Dr. Carolyn Rowley – Executive Director & Founder, Cayenne Wellness Center
- Speakers
- Star Simmons – Community Health Worker, Cayenne Wellness Center
- Shante Johnson-Harris – Community Health Worker, Cayenne Wellness Center
- Carly “Elle” Cole – Caregiver, founder of Cleverly Changing LLC; co-creator and lead strategist of the I Believe in Therapy campaign
- Heather Avant – Sickle cell warrior and advocate; campaign co-lead and mental health champion within the sickle cell community
Course Description:
This powerful session explores the intersection of mental health, chronic illness, and community healing, with a focus on individuals living with sickle cell disease. The conversation highlights the impact of anxiety, depression, and stress, and introduces the “I Believe in Therapy” campaign—an initiative dedicated to normalizing mental health conversations and reducing stigma within the Black community.
Through personal stories, open dialogue, and practical coping strategies, participants will gain tools to recognize symptoms, understand emotional triggers, and cultivate mindfulness as a path toward healing. The speakers also discuss the role of therapy, gender dynamics, and community support in fostering emotional resilience. This course empowers learners to embrace therapy as a resource for self-care, advocacy, and collective wellness—reminding us that mental health is just as vital as physical health.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify the symptoms and signs of anxiety, depression, and stress.
- Explain the importance of mindfulness in managing emotional well-being.
- Recognize how stigma affects access to mental health care in the Black and sickle cell communities.
- Understand the goals and impact of the “I Believe in Therapy” campaign.
- Discuss how gender dynamics influence mental health advocacy and access to care.
- Utilize coping strategies and resources for self-care and community support.
- Explore how grief, trauma, and faith intersect in the healing process.
- Identify the role of community-based initiatives in long-term mental health improvement.
